A KITTEN which went missing in Braunton was rescued from drowning more than five miles away in Barnstaple, by a kind-hearted teenager.

Five-month-old Jess has been reunited with her family after being discovered miles from home.

The Bengal-cross kitten went missing at around lunchtime on December 29 and was not discovered until she was found shivering in a sewer at 6pm on New Year's Eve.

Schoolgirl Courtney Sargent, 16, of Barnstaple said: "Me and my friend were just walking home when I heard a cat meowing.

"I went back and spent around 20 minutes trying to find the cat as it sounded in distress."

Jess was discovered in a sewer by the small stream parallel to Town Walk Road, in Barnstaple.

Park School pupil Courtney said: "When I eventually did find her, she was cold, wet and frightened. I took her home and looked after her before calling Cat Protection.

"She was very shaken and kept trying to run away and hide from me."

The family cat was soon safely home after owners Helen and Andy Norman, of Velator, were found thanks to the microchip under Jess's skin.

Mrs Norman said: "It's lovely to have Jess home safe. We are all so glad that her little adventure has not scared her and that she has quickly got back to her normal self.

"In fact she is as mischievous as ever climbing the furniture and playing with her brother.

"It's like having two toddlers all over again – they are so inquisitive."

It is still a mystery how the kitten managed to travel so far. The family can only assume Jess hitched a ride in the back of a removal van which was parked near their house the day she went missing.

The Norman's took two kittens into their home four months ago.

Jess and Stig, both from the same litter, are now fully fledged members of the family.

Mr and Mrs Norman's two sons, Bradley, 9, and Taylor, 7, who attend Southmead Primary school, love having the kittens around to play with.

Mrs Norman said the boys were very distressed when Jess went missing and were overjoyed to have her back.

Sue Carder, who fosters the cats at the Barnstaple and District Cats protection centre, said: "This once again outlines the importance of micro-chipping our pets.

"Market Vets of Barnstaple, who work closely with Cat Protection, are offering a £10 per cat chip until the end of the month and I advise people take up this opportunity.

"Not every cat is as lucky as Jess. Without this quick identification process cats can sometimes never be reunited with their owners."