WHEN a Hereford woman’s beloved kitten came second in the Hereford Times Pet Idol competition, she was delighted to see him voted as our top cat.

Vicky George, 23, was rightly proud of her adorable tabby Ronnie and sent a picture in with a message saying: “Ronnie is a little cutie with a big personality.”

But, sadly, by the time she came to collect her prize of a pencil portrait of her pet, it was all she had to remember Ronnie by after the six-month-old was run over on New Year’s day.

“It seems so quiet without him,” she said.

Vicky, who was also celebrating her birthday that day, and boyfriend Leon realised Ronnie hadn’t been home the night before and discovered him near their Holmer flat that morning.

The couple have now donated pet food they bought with vouchers from the competition to the Cats Protection League – while the portrait is set to take pride of place in their home.