RSPCA officers will be in Stanhope again today to find out if the Ashford estate is now safe for cats to be re-homed there.

The animal charity ran the first of two community days there yesterday to check animal welfare and offer flea treatments, microchipping and advice to pet owners.

The animal charity has had a ban on allowing rescue cats to go to homes in Stanhope for the past two years as welfare officers say cat diseases and air gun attacks are rife.

We uncovered the story a fortnight ago when Rosemary Horton, who lives in Stanhope, was told she could not have another cat despite already having one and having a large house with two gardens. The case then hit the national headlines.

The RSPCA says it had planned the community action week before the cat-ban story.

Not many pet owners went along yesterday but the animal charity is hoping more people go along to the parish hall with their pets today.

Speaking at the event yesterday, RSPCA inspector Kelli Ellison said no decision had yet been taken as to whether they would be allowing cats to be re-homed on Stanhope.

She said: “It’s being reviewed and then the re-homing of animals will then be on a case by case basis.

"If people wanting a cat meet the re-homing criteria, cats will then be allowed.”

The event is being held in the Stanhope Parish Hall, Otterden Close, from 11am to 4pm today.