A frightened and hungry cat trapped in an empty house for up to six days has been reunited with his grateful owner thanks to the animal-loving team at Belvoir Grantham.

Branch manager of the lettings and estate agents Carly French sprang into action after receiving a call from cat owner Caroline Deacon who believed her missing moggy Roo was home alone in the company's vacant rental property.

Caroline had been contacted by the North Parade property's next door neighbour who had spotted a furry face staring out of the house window.

Carly takes up the tale: "Roo had been missing for several days when Caroline posted leaflets through doors in streets near her home, including North Parade.

"The neighbour of our vacant property had seen a cat at the window the day before the leaflet dropped through their letterbox and contacted Caroline, telling her she thought it was Roo and it was one of our properties."

As soon as Caroline contacted the Belvoir Grantham office in St Peter's Hill Carly - who has two cats of her own - raced to the rescue.

"When I went in Roo was so relieved to see someone, he was very fussy and vocal.

"He was clearly starving hungry and was biting my bag and phone.

"The cat flap at the back of the property had been left open by the previous tenant and Roo must have got in - but couldn't get back out."

Carly had to get to an appointment, but didn't want to leave Roo alone again.

She organised for two of her colleagues to stay with Roo until after her meeting and then raced to her house to pick up a cat carrier to transport Roo home.

"Unfortunately, Caroline couldn't leave work until 5pm and it was only 1.30pm and I had an appointment.

"I rang the office and Leanne and Arthur came to cat-sit Roo, picking up food and a bowl for water en route.

"With Caroline's permission I brought a cat carrier from home and we delivered him to his door where he went in through the cat flap.

"I just wanted to make sure he got home safely. It's sad that he was missing for so long, but we are overjoyed he is back home and there's a happy ending.

"It's so lucky the neighbour spotted Roo otherwise who knows what might have happened, he'd already been there up to six days.

"The property is having work done on it and Roo might have been in there several more days before a contractor had gone in and found him."

Relieved Caroline, who has four other cats, told Grantham Nub News: "I'm so, so, grateful to Carly and her team for caring.

"Carly went above and beyond and made a terrible situation so much better. She even sent photos of Roo to me while I was at work."

Caroline also thanked the neighbour in North Parade for alerting her and the Facebook group Lost and Found Pets in Grantham UK.

"The group's membership is so proactive and supportive. Someone said they see Roo in North Parade so that's where I started dropping off my missing leaflets.

"I only moved up here from London late last year and I've already discovered that the community spirit in Grantham is amazing."

Photo 1: Roo back at home in bed after his ordeal

Photo 3: Roo discovered at the empty rental property

Photo 5: Going home...

Photo 1 courtesy of Roo's owner Caroline Deacon all others thanks to Belvoir Grantham.