9 May 2008

A cat in Norwich was forced to have one of its legs amputated after it became ensnared in an illegal trap.

Belle, who lives with her owner Becky Tungate in Thetford is thought to have been caught in a gin trap near her home, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

Ms Tungate found Belle in a local street with part of her front leg missing after following a trail of blood from her patio.

She is now calling on pet owners in the area to be on the look out for similar traps to save other animals from being caught in such a way.

"It is horrific when something like this happens to an animal, but a lot of children play in the forest and I want to make people aware of what could be in the forest.

"I do not understand it and I feel angry that it has happened. My cat is like a family member and my daughter was so upset and beside herself about it."

Gin traps have been banned in the UK since the 1950s.