A TINY cat's ten-day ordeal trapped dangerously close to railway tracks in York has come to an end - thanks to an heroic rescue by GNER staff.

Staff at York Station spotted the terrified cat on the tracks at Platform 5 at York Station but the animal could not be pulled to safety as it kept disappearing into a pipe carrying electric cables under the platform.

Commuters on the London-Edinburgh route spotted that the animal's back leg was badly injured, and flooded the Cats Protection League with calls. GNER night staff, who kept feeding the stricken animal, also alerted the charity.

Station staff were so determined to rescue the tortoiseshell cat they even stopped a train in a last-ditch attempt.

GNER supervisor Paola Vitolo said: "On one afternoon it was sitting on the track and there was a train due to go out but obviously it couldn't. The duty manager got down on his hands and knees but the cat went underneath the platform."

Margaret Gregory, from the Cats Protection League, said: "We had an awful lot of phone calls from the public saying why weren't we doing anything about it, but we were trying. I lent the station a trap and showed them how to use it."

Sean Gumley, a GNER performance team leader on the night shift, finally rescued the cat at 1.45am last Tuesday, and the injured animal was taken to a vet.

Margaret said: "She was in a lot of pain with the leg being badly smashed and they had to amputate it."

Now the Cats Protection League is appealing for help with the costs of her veterinary treatment.

David Mallender, of GNER, said: "We are pleased it has been able to receive veterinary treatment and that it's in safe hands."

The cat, which has been named Pippa, is recovering at Margaret's home in Bilbrough, near York.

Margaret added: "Eventually we will want a home for her but not until she has been spayed.

"She's a tiny little cat and she's very affectionate. She'd make a lovely pet."

lAnyone interested in helping the Cats Protection League should contact 01904 760356, or give their support at the Cats Protection Open day on Saturday, July 21, between 1pm and 4pm at 582 Huntington Road.

Updated: 11:46 Tuesday, July 03, 2001