A family have been left in shock after their cat, which went missing 15 years ago, has been found.

Originally from Cornwall, Winston the cat disappeared back in 2002 after his owner, Janet Barnes, moved in with her new husband, Peter.

The couple said Winston would often go off on his own, but they believed it was the move that caused their feline friend to disappear.

Mr Barnes said: “To be honest it's just unbelievable. It really is so lovely to have him back.

"We have no idea where he's been all these years, I thought he must have been living with someone else, but when he was found staggering through the road he was extremely frail."

Winston, who is thought to be 17-years-old, was handed in at a veterinary surgery 35 miles away from his home, where vets were able to check his microchip and trace his owners.