THE RSPCA has slammed thieves who stole a 12-week-old kitten from their shelter in Altham.

Shell is very small and between a tabby and a tortoiseshell in colour. She was taken on Sunday afternoon.

The kitten was being kept in an isolation booth, marked private, because she was on a special diet

She was brought in with her mum, Nadia, who is semi-feral, while Channel 4's reality TV show Big Brother was on and they were both named after contestants on the show.

Shell was fed at 1.30pm and when a member of staff went to check on her at 3pm she had gone.

Heather Holmes, from the RSPCA, said there was concern about Shell's welfare because of her diet.

She said: "If anyone has her, if they could bring her back to the centre anonymously or take her to a vet that would be the best thing for her. She will not cope well if she is fed normal cat food."

Anyone who knows where Shell is can contact the RSPCA anonymously on 08705 555 999.