Swathes of Kent’s buildings are famously bedecked with blue plaques honouring notable residents.

But now a coveted epitaph has been bestowed on a Boughton-under-Blean lamppost in tribute to “true gent” cat Theo, recently killed by a car.

The seven-year-old feline was hit in Boughton-under-Blean near Faversham last month.

He was owned by 15-year-old Ashley Sahota, who lives above the Queen’s Head pub, but was loved by other villagers.

Ashley’s grandad Derek Hammond explained: “He’s always had a bit of wanderlust and used to disappear for a couple of days, now and again.

“Then it just gradually got more and more.

“He built himself up quite a fan base around the village.

“We got reports on a fairly regular basis where people would phone me up and say, ‘Derek, Theo is here’, so I'd go and pick him up and bring him home.

“He’s a bit of a vagabond.

“Unfortunately one night he was trying to cross the road, and this car hit him and didn't stop.”

Theo’s death affected the whole village, and it was decided he should be commemorated with a tribute.

A blue plaque, which was commissioned by villager John Barnes, was deemed fitting.

Put up on Sunday, it reads: “Theo. A cat in a million. Rat catcher, hero and legend.

“A true gent roams on.”

Ashley and her family attended a small gathering to unveil the sign and placed flowers.

Mr Hammond, 74, said: “John used to look out for Theo and would defend him if anyone put something negative about him on Facebook.

“When his wife phoned him the morning after Theo had passed away and told him what had happened, he cried his eyes out.

“He is famous in the village. He used to wander about two miles over to Hernhill too.

“We were all choked up by the plaque.

“It sort of cheered up Ashley. It made her feel good because it was quite a sad few days for her.

“It was really lovely for somebody to do something like that.”

Theo was bought for the teenager’s 8th birthday.

Her mum Claire added: “It's absolutely beautiful. John is an amazing man.

“Ashley has really found comfort in it.

“He was bought for her and is her cat but in the last two years he has become a wanderer.

“He’s brought so much love to everyone's lives and he has reached so many people.

“Ashley says Theo was meant to be like that.”

The pet was hit just outside the family’s home above the tavern.

Mrs Hammond-Miller recalled: “We heard a bang and saw the car speed off.

“It hit him twice because the car dragged him forwards and then went over him again.

“We looked back on CCTV and the car was going at least 45 miles an hour.

“I would like to urge people not to speed through the village to avoid something like this happening again.”

The family also expressed frustration at current laws which do not see leaving the scene after hitting a cat as an offence.

Currently, under the Road Traffic Act (1988), drivers are required to report collisions involving animals such as dogs, horses, pigs and sheep.

Cats however are not protected under the same regulations, and collisions do not need to be reported.

Kent has another famous cat who was also recently hit by a car.

Griffin lives in Canterbury and has amassed thousands of followers on Facebook due to his adventurous ways.

He was found injured 15-miles away from home in Ashford after going missing last month.

Griffin is luckily recovering at home with his owner Rachel.