RSPCA officials are appealing for the public's help in tracking down a person who cooked a hamster in a microwave.

The creature is thought to have been lured to its death by following a trail of hamster food leading up to and inside the kitchen appliance. It happened in a flat at Beechwood, Middlesbrough.

"This is the worst piece of cruelty I have ever come across,'' said RSPCA Inspector Christine Guy, whose colleague found the hamster, who had been christened Biscuit, still in the microwave at the empty property.

She said: "This is a frustrating inquiry because an animal has suffered in an extraordinary fashion and we would very much like to bring those responsible to justice, but we need help from the public.''

Her boss, Chief Inspector Neil Mitchell said: "This is certainly a barbaric act because it has been premeditated, which makes it so much worse than an awful lot of cases we come across.''

The case came to light on the day figures highlighted parts of the North-East as the among the worst in the UK for animal cruelty.

The Northern Echo told yesterday of the case of Border terrier, Gyp, who was so starved, he ate parts of a dead dog, to survive.

The number of court prosecutions in the north - 119 cases last year - were the same as for 2002, still outstripping many parts of the UK. And there was an increase in the number of animal rescues.

Anyone with information about the hamster death is asked to call 0870 555999.