WHEN you're named Mick after a certain Mr Jagger, you've got to be a bit of a Rolling Stone.

But one cool cat has been reunited with its owner - and its best mate Keef - after over a month on the loose. The reunion is all thanks to an eagle-eyed passer-by and a brave RSPCA officer.

Mick the cat went missing from his York home so long ago, owner Howard Davis had given up hope of seeing him again.

But on Tuesday, passer-by David Craven spotted Mick in a shallow hole in the banks of the River Foss - only 50 metres from the cat's home in Huntington Road.

Mick was too far down to be plucked out, so David called the RSPCA who sent officer Gill Corder. David then held Gill's wrists and lowered her into the Foss so she could lift Mick out.

David said: "I was happy to help. I'm just glad the cat's all right."

Mick was taken back to an RSPCA centre to be fed and treated while Gill checked the lost cat records.

She quickly saw that Howard had reported his cat missing, and gave him a call. Howard said he had given up hope of ever seeing Mick again.

He added: "I tried everything, giving fliers out, walking all over the place and there was no sign of him. I can't thank Gill and her RSPCA colleagues enough." Gill said: "I'm just glad Mick is safe and well."

* Mick was today said to be underweight and "suffering from a few fleas", but he has been treated by a vet and is expected to make a full recovery.

Updated: 10:55 Thursday, September 27, 2001