WPC Catherine Sedgwick's cat, Pixie, has been named the ultimate survivor in a competition for rescued cats.

Thirteen-year-old Pixie is a picture of happiness now, but he was saved from probable death after being used as live bait in an horrific dog fight.

WPC Sedgwick, of Great Ayton, works for Cleveland police and was a scene-of-crime investigator when she stumbled across Pixie ten years ago.

"After a late shift in North Ormesby, I discovered him in a yard, with absolutely terrible injuries. I took him to a vet, who said he was so badly injured he needed his tail amputated. He had severe injuries at both ends of his body, plus internal injuries. His paw was bad, giving him a clubbed foot.

"He had been used in a dog fight, to goad the dogs before they fought each other. It's an appalling crime and we got some arrests."

Thankfully, Pixie survived and is now a handsome, happy cat. His recovery and spirit greatly impressed judges in a national Cat Protection League contest and they named him the country's ultimate survivor. One of the judges was vet Steve Leonard, of TV's Vets In Practice.

"I called him Pixie because he looked like one when I found him. He was tiny. Now he's a big, stocky lump. And with his black-and-white fur, he looks like Felix the Cat," joked WPC Sedgwick, with pride.