A cat rescue group is being stretched to breaking point as volunteers struggle to cope.

The Wharfe Valley Branch of Cats Protection has found itself on the front line of cat rescue across much of the district in recent years.

Now the group says it is finding it increasingly hard to cope with demand.

Organisers say calls to the branch help line have doubled to 50 a day in the past few months as other cat rescues in Leeds and Bradford have closed.

The closures have often been due to illness or the death of key helpers, but some are due to ‘weariness, organisational problems or lack of funding’, says the group.

Now they say they are being left to cover an increasingly wide area.

The charity is working with other animal groups and Leeds City Council housing staff to reach more owners to encourage neutering, but they say the area is in crisis People who would like to help should call 0845 1947292.