AN emaciated kitten is recovering after being forced through the letterbox of a County Durham house.

The stricken animal, named Derek by the vet who later treated it, was dropped onto the doormat of a house in Easington Colliery.

"He is very thin and seems to have had chunks of fur cut out of him," said a spokeswoman for the Durham branch of the Cat Protection League.

"I'm surprised he hasn't had his back or ribs broken. I just don't know how they managed to squeeze him through the letterbox."

The white kitten is believed to be from the same litter as a black and white female, named Daisy, that was left at a house next door.

"It was caked in fleas, very thin and dehydrated and almost on the point of collapse," said the spokeswoman.

She said that both kittens, aged about three months, should make a good recovery and that loving homes were being sought for them.

"They are very friendly and with good food and TLC they should be fine."

The pair are the latest young cats to be abandoned. The branch has up to 30 kittens and older cats it is hoping to re-home.

The spokeswoman said: "The best way of stopping the problem is to have cats spayed or neutered.

"We have vouchers towards the cost of the operation for people who can't afford it and in some cases we will pay the whole cost."

To give a cat a loving home call 0191-386 8211