Eight kittens that were stolen this week have been returned to their owners who are “overjoyed” to have them back.

The owner, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to us on Tuesday after eight of her kittens were stolen from her hay store overnight from Sunday to Monday this week, but rang to tell us on Thursday morning that they had been returned.

“We were walking down the field at around 5.30pm on Wednesday night, and they were sitting on our table, all eight of them”, she explained, “I really can’t believe it. We think their return was a direct result of the media coverage from the Gazette, and the police and local vets circulating their photos.

“We made them too hot to handle, which led to a change of heart, and we’re so pleased to have them back.

“We want to say thank you to the Gazette, local vets and everyone who shared our story, because you helped bring them home.”

All eight kittens are back where they should be and are luckily unscathed by their catnapping adventure.