A kitten that survived a 300-mile journey inside the bumper of a naval helicopter pilot's car has become the star of a Royal Navy and Marines charity calendar.

The cat was discovered by Lieutenant Nick Grimmer shortly after he had driven from Birmingham to Cornwall via Bristol and Bath.

The pilot, who flies submarine-seeking Merlin helicopters with 814 Naval Air Squadron, known as the Flying Tigers, said he heard a "very quiet meowing" coming from his car.

He said: "I looked in the boot, under the bonnet and climbed all over and under it and still couldn’t find what was making the noise.

"I called up some of our air engineers who came and helped me to start dismantling my pride and joy. On taking off the rear bumper we were greeted by a tiny tiger-striped kitten.