UNCARING pet owners dumped three kittens on the proposed site of a regional RSPCA centre - before a single brick has been laid.

The animal charity, which hopes to build a £3m facility to house hundreds of the region's abandoned animals, said one of its officers found two terrified kittens in a cardboard box.

The third kitten is thought to escaped the box but was found dead nearby.

The animals were discovered on ground near to the RSPCA's proposed centre, on the site of a former community college in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Last month, planning officers at Chester-le-Street District Council voted to block the scheme because it felt the scheme contravened Local Plan rules on building and land use in green belt areas.

Last night, the charity said it was in the process of putting together an appeal and hopes to overturn the decision.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: "A box of kittens was dumped at the site - that illustrates the desperate need for these facilities in the North-East.

"The kittens were left in a cardboard box and discovered by an RSPCA officer who was visiting the site.

"One of them died before they were found. It wouldn't have been able to fend for itself overnight."

The two animals found alive are now being cared for by RSPCA workers at their Sunderland branch.

The RSPCA bought a 100-acre farm at Chester Moor two years ago and recently purchased the adjoining old Felledge Primary School, which housed the recently closed Action Community College.

The incident helps highlight a general lack of facilities for abandoned animals in the North-East.

The spokeswoman said: "We don't want people to think they can leave their animals here - there isn't a branch there.

"The branches that do exist are full to bursting and that will only get worse over the Christmas period."

l The Northern Echo started its Animal Watch campaign, with backing from the RSPCA, to highlight the region's poor animal cruelty record.