AND the winner is... Bailey the cat for best performance in getting home to Wigginton after suffering multiple fractures to a leg.

Barbara with Bailey

At least, that's what the plucky feline's owner, Barbara Rawlinson, hopes will be the outcome of the National Cat Awards, for which Bailey has been nominated.

The awards were created by Arthur's cat food makers six years ago, and reward the most amazing stories of cat devotion, survival, and courage in Britain, with a top prize of £1,000 cash.

And Bailey has as good a chance as any moggie, after having broken four bones in her foot but still managing to hobble back home.

After months of treatment and operations, she eventually had to have her leg amputated. Bailey is now doing very well and has got over the sad experience.

"Bailey is a credit to people and animals with a disability, she has shown the courage and determination disabled people show - never giving up and never feeling sorry for herself" says Barbara Rawlinson.

The Arthur's awards final will take place on August 17, and the 12 selected finalists will each receive a "silver" Arthur statuette and £200 cash prize.

There is still time to enter the competition, so if you think that your cat deserves an Arthur Award, phone the Arthur hotline on 0894 800 805 for a nomination form and entry details.

The closing date for entries is April 30.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.