Five three-week-old kittens found dumped in a Canterbury garden have been saved from almost certain death.

Shivering after a night outside in the cold, the quintet were found in a sofa in the front garden of a house on the London Road Estate.

They were riddled with fleas and starving.

It was only by chance that Paula Davies spotted them in the sofa, which was about to be taken to a tip.

The 38-year-old, of Franklyn Road, said: "They were tiny and absolutely freezing, so I put them into a cardboard box, with a fluffy dressing gown for comfort, and called Cats Protection."

It is unclear how the cats ended up in the sofa, but Paula fears a mother cat may be searching for her kittens.

"I have been keeping watch for her but no luck so far," said Paula, who has four cats of her own.

The kittens – which have been named Thor, Electra, Storm, Kepi and Raine – were cared for overnight by vets in Wincheap.

Moira Lindsey, of the Canterbury branch of Cats Protection, then took them in.

The former veterinary nurse said: "There was concern that Thor wouldn't make it through the night. He would not take any milk but now he’s the greediest one of the lot."

Pat King, a volunteer with Cats Protection, added: "Luckily these kittens were found in time and will have a happy ending. The real tragedy is that unwanted litters are being born every day with no realistic hope of finding homes for them all.

"We would urge all cat owners to please get their cats neutered as early as possible – some vets will neuter from three to four months old."

The cats were found on the morning of October 28 after Kent's worst storm in a decade.

Visit www.canterbury.cats.org.uk or phone 07871 998689 for information on neutering.