Fur flew when a teenager stormed out of his job - after he lost his head. The claws came out after the 16-year-old, who had dressed as a giant cat on a promotion exercise, was accused of losing the furry critter's head - on purpose.

Crossley Hall Car Centre, in Fairweather Green, had spent £1,500 on a marketing campaign featuring Crossley the Cat.

But when the teenager later explained how his costume head was stolen, boss Steve Taylor would not believe him.

But managing director Mr Taylor has since apologised to the youth, who asked not to be named, and admits it was not just poor Crossley who lost his head.

Mr Taylor said: "I would like to say I'm sorry. I regret what I said.

"I have asked the lad to come back but unfortunately he couldn't. I offered him a £20 bonus to finish the job."

Mr Taylor said he had not believed the youngster because he had seemed unenthusiastic about the work earlier that day.

But he realised his mistake when he later talked to builders who said they saw what happened.

The former Buttershaw Upper School pupil, whose agency found him alternative work the following day, said: "Mr Taylor said I dumped it. He was shouting at me and then said I'd better go home.

"If I didn't want to do the job in the first place, I would have walked away from it.

"You can't just sack somebody and ask them to come back."

He said the bright orange head was stolen as he stood giving leaflets out to motorists in Thornton Road.

A Land Rover sped by and passengers inside grabbed the head and drove off with it.

It followed threats from a careful of thugs who jeered and said they were going to stab him.

Crossley Hall Car Centre has now offered a £50 reward for the safe return of Crossley Cat's head.

Steve said: "It's obviously a prank but I could do with it back. It's quite an expensive campaign but it's working.

"If whoever took it comes back in person I will give them a beer afterwards. We are not taking it too seriously."

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