A cat has used up most of its nine lives surviving a sickening shooting incident.

But a spirited recovery earned six-year-old Tess the title of the North-East's Pet Survivor of the Year in a competition run by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

Owners Olwyn and Neil Plant found Tess, a male cat, badly injured in the garden of their Framwellgate Moor home, near Durham, last October.

He underwent emergency surgery at the Dunelm Veterinary Group practice in Gilesgate, Durham, where the injuries were found to have come from a bullet fired from a high-velocity rifle.

Vet Jack Creaner said the bullet caused injuries to Tess's cheek, neck and shoulder and they were the worst non-road accident injuries he had encountered in 11-years as a vet.

Mr Creaner said: "It's brilliant that he's survived. They talk about the nine lives of a cat, well all you need now is for Tess to pick you six numbers in the lottery."

Police investigated, but have not found out who was responsible for shooting Tess.

Tess, despite losing his hearing, is slowly returning to his old ways.

"It took a while, but he's started going out again, but not as far. He stays much closer to home now," said Mr Plant.

Tess returned to the practice yesterday to receive his PDSA Pet Survivor of the Year award for the North-East, which qualifies him as one of eight national finalists later in the year.