A cat went on an action-packed 90-mile journey after becoming trapped in a lorry skip.

Siamese Charlie Chan, who was driven away from his home in Ashford, narrowly avoided being tipped into a waste crusher during his adventure.

The lorry’s driver found Charlie and took him home to Old Romney - even though the stressed-out moggy bit him.

Driver Gary Benn, 52, said: “The cat bit my finger to the bone and I had to have tetanus jabs. But I forgive him.”

• Audio: Lorry driver Gary Benn and Charlie's owner Tracey Duggan speak to kmfm >>>

Two-year-old Charlie’s ordeal began when he had wandered from his home at Conningbrook Villas, Willesborough Road, Ashford, into a neighbouring KCC green waste depot last Friday.

He climbed and slipped down into a giant 14ft high skip and was promptly covered up by waste leaves and branches.

Mr Benn, who works for the Pluckley-based recycling and waste management firm Countrystyle Group, took the skip on his lorry and travelled 30 miles to a company depot at Temple Marsh Estate, Strood.

He had delivered a second skip there and carried on with the one containing Charlie to another company depot at Ridham Dock Road, Iwade, Sittingbourne, another 14 miles away.

There the contents of the skip were tipped into a crusher but Charlie Chan jumped clear.

Mr Benn then picked up the cat and took him home until his owners could be traced.

He explained: “The cat shot out, I took him in my arms and he bit my right little finger.

“But he was very stressed. He had been in that skip for at least four hours.”

The last leg of Charlie’s journey was another 45 miles to Mr Benn’s home in Rhee Wall, Old Romney, comfortably in the lorry cab’s footwell.

The entire trip that day totalled 89 miles.

Mr Benn kept Charlie at home overnight. The owners were traced next day when he was taken to the Barrow Hill Veterinary Centre in New Romney and an identification chip was found in his neck.

Owner Tracey Duggan 44, was called and immediately drove to pick him up.

She said: “Charlie Chan had disappeared for two days before he ended up in the skip and we had been searching for him everywhere. But he was unhurt and is now home. My family and I are so grateful to Mr Benn for all he did.”