A KITTY with a deathwish was rescued by police as it clung to the rear axle of Range Rover on the A40 near Ross-on-Wye.

The mystery moggy – who is now recovering from the ordeal – is believed to have stashed himself underneath the bonnet of another vehicle before making a break for it when the car stopped at a service station on Monday morning.

Two officers arrived on the scene to see the cat sprinting across the busy road, followed by two concerned bystanders, only to clamber up and hide himself in the undercarriage of a stationary Range Rover.

Now the search is on to find the kitten’s owner – failing that, one of police officers who helped him said they will happily give the two-month-old a new home.

“He came out fighting,” said PC Karl Lacey, one of the officers who happened to have been driving by when the bizarre series of events occurred.

“But then he calmed down and we were able to get him to the vets.

“We located him pretty quickly, but it was difficult to get hold of him and it took a while to get him out.

“We think he came out from the bonnet of a car at the services – but the lady who was driving it has no idea how it got there, or how long it had been in there for.”

The incident brought traffic on the A40 to a halt for around 15 minutes as police closed off the road to rescue the cat.

Nicknamed ‘Axle’ by the two officers – the animal was taken to Chase View Veterinary Clinic by trainee nurse Rebecca Paige.

Vet Kate Kerry and nurse Charlotte Barton gave Axle a full examination, and, amazingly, found that he made it through the escapade entirely unscathed.

“He’s absolutely fine. He’s very calm, and a beautiful little kitten,” Carolyn Price from Chase View.

“This big, 6ft 4ins policeman came with him – and he said he’d be happy to give him a home.”

With no identification chip or any other form of identification, the vets have no way of tracking down a previous owner, however the woman whose car Axle initially hid himself in is from Ross, so police believe he may have come from there.

They will hold on to him for a few more days, and then look to find him a new home.

If you recognise Axle please contact Chase View Vets on 01989 562251.