MEET Harry - he might look like a purr-fect little kitten, but, in actual fact, he is an 11-month old Tom who is about to become the area's first bionic moggie!

As a rescue cat of the Bamber Bridge-based charity Cats in Crisis, young Harry is regarded as the Peter Pan of the cat world after being diagnosed with a rare growth defect, known as a liver shunt, which is causes his liver to function insufficiently and prevents him to grow.

Now tough cookie Harry has to undergo a new-style operation, to install a metal ameroid constrictor ring - flown in specially from the USA - which will seal off the by-pass blood vessel causing the problem and allow his liver to function as normal.

Cats in Crisis organiser Marlene Brewer said: "He's a lovely cat who looks about 12-weeks old. I homed him at nine-weeks but he came back to me two months ago because he wasn't growing.."

Marlene, of Stockdale Crescent, Bamber Bridge, houses 17 kittens, rescued from a house in Preston.

Marlene said: "When I got the kittens they were littered with worms, ear mites and fleas. But now they have been given a clean bill of health as well as being neutered and spayed. They are ready to be re-homed and would make lovely pets for the right family."

To adopt one of the kittens call Marlene on (01772) 498053.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.