SIX kittens were found crammed in a small cardboard box with bricks on top in a woodland.

Tara Scott, who runs Kitty Kat Rescue, in Lawford, was contacted by a dog walker after the discovery in Furze Hill woods, Mistley.

He heard a noise, which “sounded like crying”, and saw the box with bricks piled on top.

Inside were six kittens, huddled together, and covered in urine and faeces.

The dog walker’s daughter contacted Miss Scott, who took in the kittens.

She said: “If they had been left there any longer, I don’t think they would have made it.

Gazette:

“It isn’t just the six kittens we have to worry about, it’s what’s gone on with the mother, too.

“At that age, they should in fact still be with their mother, so I’m just hoping she wasn’t dumped with them.”

The kittens will be rehomed when they are old enough.

In the meantime, they are being looked after by Ellen Withers, of Palfrey Heights, Brantham, who offered to help foster the kittens as the rescue centre was at full capacity.

She said: “My initial reaction whenever I hear anything like this is always ‘what sort of person would do that?’ “I was upset at the thought of such tiny, innocent, little things being dumped and getting cold, wet and hungry.”

Kitty Kat Rescue accommodates 57 cats.

Miss Scott said: “It’s so difficult because it’s a lot of mouths to feed.

“Many centres are cramped and crowded.”