Stowaway cat has got a ticket to ride on the bus to Paw-sall

So you can imagine Philip Brownridge's surprise to find a friendly feline climbing over the seats when he got back to the depot.

Bosses at the National Express garage in Walsall are now appealing for the owner to come forward after the kitten was discovered on the 301 route between Walsall and Bloxwich yesterday.

Driver Mr Brownridge was alerted to the stowaway by a bemused passenger who had seen a young boy stroking the cat. He said: "When I was told by one of the passengers I could not believe it.

"I have no idea whether she was left on here by a passenger or whether she has managed to get on without anyone looking.

"I can honestly say I have never had anything like this before."

The 35-year-old from Walsall added: "It is not every day you are told that there is a cat sat calmly at the back of the bus watching the houses go by. As soon as I found her I made sure that she was taken back to the garage and was fed. This is obviously someone's pet and it is important we can get the cat back to them as soon as possible, so we really do want any help we can get from local people."

The depot said the cat is the oddest piece of lost property ever to be found on one of its vehicles. The little critter is currently in safe hands and making herself comfortable with National Express staff.

And as luck would have it, a box full of cat food was left on another local route last week so she has been well fed.