Four female cats have been rescued by the RSPCA after being squeezed into an animal carrier and abandoned.

The four, one of whom was pregnant, were found on a housing estate in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 1 May and had been covered with a duvet alongside dumped furniture.

Emily Cole, manager of the RSPCA Eau Brink Animal Centre who carried out the rescue, said "there was no need to have left them like rubbish".

She added that struggling owners should ask charities for help.

They were named Emily, Emu, Elk and Eland, with Emily believed to be the other cats' mother.

Emily was pregnant again when rescued and has had two kittens which have been named Egrett and Eagle.

They were being cared for at Eau Brink, near Tilney All Saints.

Emu, Elk and Eland have been rehomed together.

Cole said the centre, which is part of RSPCA West Norfolk, is currently caring for 30 cats and kittens.

She said: "These poor cats were squished in this tiny carrier all piled on top of each other up to the top of it.

"They were all hot and were so scared. It breaks my heart they had been left in such a way. It was just so awful - they had literally been thrown out with the rubbish.

"If we hadn't rescued them, I can't bear to think what would have happened.

"Abandoning a pet is never the answer. We know times are tough, but we would urge people to always reach out and ask for help first and never resort to just leaving your pets."

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Missing moggy found seven years after it escaped

Rescued poodle-cross Gracie gets her happy ever after

RSPCA West Norfolk