A CAT owner fears her pets have been poisoned.

Two cats were found dead in Ashbourne Drive, Coxhoe, on Sunday, and a third has gone missing.

One of the dead animals, and the missing cat, belong to Hellen and David Murray-English and their children Tabitha and Jemima, the other to a neighbour.

Mrs Murray-English fears the missing cat, Bluebell, has suffered the same fate as their two-year-old pet Lily.

"The two dead cats we found both had foam coming from their mouth, which is a sign of poisoning.

"Last summer a neighbour's cat was found dead and a vet confirmed that it had died of poisoning and last month another cat disappeared.

"It is a very quiet cul-de-sac so they are not likely to have been run over.

"It is all suspicious and we think that someone is poisoning them."

Mrs Murray-English said that her children - the family have another cat, seven-year-old Daisy - were upset at the loss of their pets.

"Ashbourne Drive backs on to Coxhoe Primary School, and children get dropped off here, so it is horrendous if people are putting down poison to kill cats. It is really worrying."

A police spokesman said the cause of death was not yet known but the local beat officer had been informed and they were to give the area close attention.