A BOOZY cat has been sipping punters' pints while their backs are turned in a North-East pub.

Joey the black and white cat made the Teal Arms, in Ingleby Barwick, on Teesside, his local since he moved to the area in the spring.

But instead of buying his own pints, the mean mog has been drinking everyone else's cider, beer and even alcopops.

He has now been given his marching orders by landlady Lynne Thomas, who has barred him from the pub because he is under-age.

She said: "I asked his owner, Katie, how old he was, and she told me he was only one, so I said that he could come back when he was 18.

"He is definitely not the 'purrfect' customer because he sticks his head into other people's beer glasses and drinks from them. He is an alcoholic pussy cat."

Joey's owner, Katie Perfitt, 22, had not realised Joey was spending so much time at the pub, although she had noticed him behaving strangely.

She said: "He was running up and down the stairs, pulling the duvet off the bed and jumping on our dinner plates.

"Then he would suddenly fall asleep and I couldn't move him at all."

The penny dropped when she had her engagement party at the Teal Arms, which is only 50 yards from her home, and finally saw Joey in action. She now keeps her pet inside during opening hours.