A CAT lover is fuming after council workers disposed of her run-down pet without trying to trace her.

Rachel O'Connor's cat Loki was knocked down close to her home, on High Street, Carrville, Durham, on Friday, February 11.

According to neighbours, Loki's body was on the road at 2pm but gone by 3pm.

After learning of this the following day, a distressed Mrs O'Connor called nearby vets and Durham County Council.

However, she only discovered what had happened the following Monday, when she said a council worker told her Loki, who was 16 months old, had already 'been disposed of'.

Mrs O'Connor, 31, said: "I was really upset. I'd already realised what must have happened because he hadn't come home.

"But I'd started to think about whether we would cremate or bury him. I feel like I haven't been able to say goodbye.

"I thought if council workers found any animal they would take them to the vet."

Loki had a microchip, which Mrs O'Connor, a midwife and young mother, said a vet could have used to trace his owner.

Durham County Council has apologised and launched an investigation.

John Lowes, clean and green manager eastern division, said: "Seeing dead animals at the side of the road is distressing for everyone so our policy is always to move them.

"We are sorry if this is upsetting for the animal owners and in this instance are investigating what happened to the cat."