TEENAGERS who sold a litter of unwanted kittens at a car boot sale have been condemned by animal lovers.

The group were spotted at the market in Pannal, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Sunday and were reported to the RSPCA.

The charity's regional manager, Alan Wolinski, said: "We are very concerned to hear that kittens were being sold in this manner.

"A car boot sale is no place for such small and vulnerable creatures and, unless they were transported in proper pet carriers, their welfare is likely to have suffered both en route to the market and during the time they were up for sale.

"Sunday was a very hot day and we are by no means certain that these kittens had access to water and food. Selling animals in this manner can not only be frightening for the animals concerned, but also encourages impulse buying.

"People should think long and hard before they take on a pet, and a car boot sale is no place to make such an important decision. It was irresponsible and potentially cruel to sell these animals, but it would also have been irresponsible to buy them without long deliberation."