A CHARITY which is dedicated to helping cats has received a Leeds City Council award.

The Wharfe Valley Branch of Cats Protection, which has shops in Horsforth and Otley, was presented with a bronze award for Excellence in Partnership working.

The charity says the award reflects years of educational work and interventions with council tenants and housing teams to improve the welfare of cats and other pets. Much of the work on the ground centres on major neutering programmes and awareness raising.

Graham Hoult, from Wharfe Valley Cats Protection said: "It is truly encouraging to receive this recognition for the hard work our small group of volunteers has put in over many years. The award is much appreciated as work with animals does not always feature highly in terms of public recognition.

Sylvia Hoult, also from the charity, added: "In reality we spend as much time dealing with vulnerable or challenging people as we do cats. The award is not an excuse to sit back - the work has only scratched the surface."

The branch has neutered or funded the neutering of more than 1500 cats every year for more than 15 years in the Leeds/Bradford area. Each year it admits about 550 cats and kittens most of which are strays and breeding on the streets.The branch is run entirely by volunteers funded by its charity shops in Otley and Horsforth and donations from supporters locally.