FIVE kittens are on their way to new homes after being rescued from a skip.

They were found when the skip was being emptied in the Cheney Manor area, and are now with Thameswood Small Animal Hospital.

The kittens, three males and two females, who were only a few days old at the time, were with their mother when the skip was moved.

But the sudden movement prompted the cat to run off and she has not been seen since.

Sharon Adams, a trainee veterinary nurse at the hospital, said the kittens were being hand-reared and were doing really well.

"They are quite healthy surprisingly," she said.

"They're lively and eating and drinking well. "They need to be fed every two hours, day and night, and my mum is helping me as it is hard work.

"Most of the kittens have already found homes and will be with their new owners in another six to eight weeks.

"It is possible that the mum belongs to someone since the kittens were quite healthy.

"We would like anyone who sees a cat in the relevant area, who has obviously recently had kittens, to get in touch."

Thameswood Small Animals Hospital can be contacted on 01793 526780.