MIDNIGHT the cat has been reunited with his young owner - despite being missing for more than a year!

Grace Marvell, ten, from Wetherby Road, York, was given the runaway puss for her birthday, but was left devastated when he disappeared.

But concerned cat lover Ann Waddington saved the day when Midnight turned up at her house in Milner Street - where the Marvells used to live. Ann, who is a volunteer for the Cat's Protection League, put an appeal in the Evening Press, which was answered by Grace's mother, Claire. "Over Christmas we heard this terrible howling outside the house and discovered it was Midnight," Ann said.

"He came back every night after we fed him - I'm so pleased Grace has got him back. I think he was living in the allotments at the back of the house."

Grace said: "I never thought I'd see him again. It's brilliant."

Updated: 11:26 Tuesday, February 17, 2004