Cat's 100-mile ride under train

A cat is believed to have hitched a ride of almost 100 miles from Teesside to Cumbria underneath a freight train.

The animal was discovered by a depot fitter in Carlisle, when he examined the empty carriage which had returned from Billingham.

The white and tortoise-shell female was dirty and extremely shaken but otherwise unharmed. She was taken to an animal refuge in Carlisle.

There are now hopes she can be reunited with her owner.

The Direct Rail Services train had been undergoing routine maintenance in Billingham.

As soon as it pulled into the depot a week ago, the fitter looked underneath a carriage and found the cat on a small ledge.

Staff had to coax the cat from the underside of the train

The train had only made one stop, in Darlington, so it is believed the animal must have climbed on board on Teesside.

Sam Glencross, from Direct Rail Services, said: "It was clear it had been there for a long time, as it was very shaken. It took a bit of coaxing to get it off, but eventually it did so.

"We took it into the office and once it was in a normal environment it calmed down a bit.

"However, it still took two people to get it into a box so it could go to a refuge."

She added: "It's been the talk of the depot."

Nicky Diebel, from the Animals Refuge in Carlisle, said: "We would like to reunite it with its owners, but if you lose a cat in Teesside you wouldn't think of ringing up a refuge in Cumbria."