A CAT rescue centre formed the unlikely scene of a book launch at the weekend.

The book was The Nine Lives of Oscar the Cat, a debut novel inspired by a rescue cat belonging to its author, Sara Fellows.

Sara, a sixth form mentor from Stockton, was the winner of a competition launched as part of last year’s Northern Children’s Book Festival celebrations. The competition gives budding North-East authors the chance to have their children’s book illustrated and printed for free.

The book was officially launched on Saturday, November 5, at Great Ayton RSPCA, where children were invited to listen to the story.

The Nine Lives of Oscar the Cat tells the story of a mischievous little cat called Oscar whose insatiable desire for adventure leads him into many sticky situations. It was based on Sara’s beloved rescue cat.

She said: "My book was inspired by my much loved cat Oscar, he was quite literally the cat's whiskers and these are the adventures he never got to live out.

"I'd love his legacy to live on in literature and to share his stories with children who will love him too."

Debbie Fowle, manager of RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre, said: "We’re delighted to be involved with Sara’s book launch. At the centre we help hundreds of animals every year and this launch is a great way to encourage people to visit the centre who may not have been before."

The Northern Children’s Book Festival is Europe’s largest children’s book festival. This year’s festival runs from November 7 to November 20, culminating in a gala weekend event at Benfield School, Newcastle, where the winner of the 2012 Northern Star competition will be voted for by the public.

Throughout this month a number of bestselling children’s authors, including Paul Cookson, Lynne Chapman and Margaret Ryan, will be visiting schools and libraries throughout Middlesbrough to encourage a love of reading.