Lucky Lucy! Kitten survives 20-mile journey to Northampton curled up in engine of a van

Lucy has been reunited with her mother Harley

A kitten was found curled up inside the engine of a van that had travelled 20 miles to Northampton after the driver heard 'weird mewing noises'.

Three-month-old Lucy went missing from her home in Newport Pagnell on Monday, August 22 and her owner Jo Wilson put up posters asking if anyone had any information about where she had gone.

Five days later, a van driver found Lucy in the engine compartment of his company van after he heard “weird mewing noises.”

Alex Craven, aged 20, who lives a mile away from Mrs Wilson’s home, said: “My colleagues and I searched all around but we couldn’t find a cat. Then we looked at the engine grill and we could see little whiskers poking out.

Three-month-old Lucy has now been returned to her home in Newport Pagnell

“I lifted up the bonnet and there was this tiny kitten curled up in the engine compartment. She was fine and didn’t even seem scared.”

Alex and his colleagues fed Lucy and then his boss took her to a Northampton vet to be checked.

“The vet said she was okay and none the worse for her adventure. She was just very hungry and thirsty. But she was still purring away and wanting to play with us all the time,” said Alex.

He posted her photo on Facebook to ask if anybody recognised her.

Lucy was fund safe and well despite travelling 20 miles in the engine of a transit van

He said: “I was contacted by my old school friend James who said: ‘Dude, that’s my cat!’ We couldn’t believe it.”

Three month old Lucy is now safely back with her family, who also have her mum Harley.

“She not all traumatised and hasn’t stopped purring!” said Jo, who has thanked Alex for his efforts.