MYSTERY surrounds the disappearances of up to five black cats in a two neighbouring villages.

Three black cats on the same street in Croft-on-Tees, near Darlington, have vanished without a trace in just a matter of weeks, leaving families desperately searching for their beloved pets.

And two black cats are also understood to have gone missing in neighbouring village Dalton-on-Tees.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed they are investigating the circumstances around the incident.

A spokeswoman said: “Police have received reports of a number of black cats going missing from Croft and Dalton.

“Officers are investigating the incidents after it was reported two cats went missing from the same owners’ address on South Parade, Croft.

“One of the cats went missing in August and the other in September.

“Another cat went missing from a different address in South Parade in mid-September.

“It is believed another cat has gone missing from Dalton, and officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

In Croft, Harriet Boyd’s two black cats, Austin and Arthur, have both disappeared, while Jackie Schmidt’s black cat Tom is also missing.

The cats are much-loved family pets and the children are said to be devastated.

Mrs Schmidt said: “It is a complete mystery. The cats are chipped and none have been found on the roads. It is like they have just vanished into thin air.

“There are loads of cats in our village and it is just the black ones which have disappeared.”

Mrs Boyd said her cats loved their home comforts and it was completely out of character for them to be missing.

Anyone with information about the missing cats is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police. Call 101, press 2 and ask to speak to PSCO Helen Sutherland.