A FIVE-YEAR-OLD old girl who made global news when she wrote to a police chief calling for cats on the beat was delighted to see her moggie adopted as a mascot for the force’s Mini Police.

Eliza Adamson-Hopper was at Durham Constabulary’s headquarters today (Tuesday, July 5) to see her cat Mittens immortalised by a Disney artist for the next generation of crime fighters.

Mittens will be used on stationery, publicity material and may even one day have a costume version created as the mascot for the Mini Police - school children aged nine to 11-years-old who volunteer with the force to represent their communities.

Eliza, of Burnopfield, County Durham wrote to Chief Constable Mike Barton three months ago urging him to consider the advantages that cats could have alongside existing four-legged employees.

Much to her surprise the youngster soon found a letter in the post from the police chief praising her theory alongside a drawing of his own cat Joey – and a promise that a role would be found for cats.

Mother Cheryl Adamson, who along with Mittens joined Eliza today, said: “ She is absolutely thrilled with it all.

“My friend who lives in Hong Kong messaged me after the news first broke in The Northern Echo and said that he had seen it on his local television. I couldn’t believe it.

“It’s hilarious. Eliza wants Mitten to come and work as a police cat and then come home again every night.

“I don’t know if there are many nine to five jobs in the police force, but that is what she is hoping for.

“It is amazing what the police have done today.”

She added: “When Eliza first wrote the letter we said he’s a very busy man, he might not write back.

“For a little girl to get a letter back from someone so important was really nice, I think. Mittens has loved all the attention as well.”

Mr Barton said: “As is normal I write back to people and because Eliza was five-years-old I thought she might not be able to read my writing so I drew a picture of my cat Joey on the back of the letter.

“Eliza’s mum contacted The Northern Echo and of course the story went viral.

“One or two of my colleagues have pulled my leg about my drawing of the cat and said I must have spent hours drawing the cat.

“I’ve got to tell you that when a story goes viral you wish you’d spent just that little bit longer drawing a cat - especially when it hits the wider world.

“Mittens is now our Mini Police mascot and Eliza and he mum are delighted that we’ve actually taken the story that much further.”

PC Craig Johnson, who heads up the Mini Police said: “I think it is nice for Eliza – that her letter has turned into a mascot for the force.”

There are 43 schools in County Durham and Darlington involved in the Mini Police, with more expected to join.