A stray cat which won the hearts of staff at the Shropshire Star’s head office has finally been reunited with his owner following an appeal in the paper.

The black kitten, named Star by employees at the paper’s Ketley office, was taken in and given a temporary home by telesales worker Mandy Batchelor on November 11 after the animal kept wandering into the main entrance.

An appeal was subsequently made in the Shropshire Star to trace the 18-week-old cat’s owner and he has now come forward to claim his missing pet.

Mike Stothard, who lives opposite the Shropshire Star offices in Ketley, noticed his beloved pet was missing on the night of November 11.

He said: “His name is Ponkers and he really belongs to my three-year-old son, Christian.

“Christian was really upset when he thought Ponkers had gone but we are so glad he is back.

“We’re really chuffed.”

Mr Stothard, a security guard at Telford College of Arts and Technology, had Ponkers when he was just eight weeks old from a woman who lives nearby.

Mr Stothard contacted Mandy following the appeal for the cat’s owner to come forward and she took it round to his house this week.

Mandy said: “I am sad to see the little cat go as I was getting really attached to him but I am really pleased that he’s been reunited with his owners.

“There will always be a bowl of milk and some cuddles for him at our offices if he ever goes wandering again.

“At least this time we know where he lives.”