These three fluffy bundles of fur were today looking for new homes after being found abandoned on a Laindon street.

The trio had been crammed inside a cardboard box with a fourth friend and left to die in Brendon.

But a keen-eared passer by, who lives in the appropriately-named Eastbrooks Mews in Pitsea, heard their cries.

She called the police at 10.10pm on Thursday and the cats were taken to Basildon police station and spent a night in the kennels.

Only three cats appear in our picture because the fourth, nicknamed Houdini by station staff, had managed to sneak under the cell door and find a tray to curl up and sleep in.

All four were taken away by the RSPCA on Friday morning. The charity now faces the task of finding them somewhere to live.

The tortoiseshell cats are believed to be quite young.

Acting Sgt Kate Frazer, pictured, was only one of the police officers who were taken with the engaging felines.

Another employee has already expressed an interest in adopting one of the cats and a third said: "They are absolutely beautiful, a really lovely colour."

If you can offer a cat a home please call John or Yvonne Brock on 01708 726937.

Looking for a new home - the abandoned cats with Acting Sgt Kate Frazer

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.