A CAT owner is distraught after her animals were poisoned by drinking antifreeze.

Christine Parker's two cats, Sweep and Clement, died at the weekend, despite a vet's efforts to save them.

Ms Parker, of Thornton Street, Darlington, does not know if her cats were deliberately poisoned, or if it was an accident.

She said: "The cats started vomiting on Wednesday last week, and by the Friday they were really poorly and lethargic, so I took them to the vets.

"They had enlarged kidneys and were very dehydrated. The vet did his very best to save them, but they both died."

Now, Ms Parker wants to alert other cat owners to the dangers of antifreeze.

She said: "The vet said it was typical of antifreeze poisoning. Cats drink it because it's very sweet.