An urgent appeal has been issued by a animal welfare group after fears the infamous 'Croydon Cat Killer' has struck again in Kent.

South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty (SNARL) has spent years trying to help police solve the chilling case, which has seen 400 animals brutally slaughtered.

Over the weekend the group issued an appeal after a mutilated cat was found in Wrotham Road, Gravesend on Friday.

It is believed the person responsible then travelled to the St Leonards/Hastings area and stayed there until Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Posting to its 22,000 followers on Facebook the group said: "We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who had a guest in a motel, B&B or hotel who checked in at any point from Thursday and who was noticed coming in or leaving in the early hours or raised suspicion, particularly if fur or bloodied items were left in the room."

The suspect, who is also dubbed the M25 killer due to locations of the slayings and the Croydon Cat Ripper, is previously thought to have murdered a box of rabbits on the Fleet Estate.

SNARL is also looking for information about someone sleeping in a vehicle or moving around in a vehicle suspiciously between 11.20pm on Thursday and 8am on Sunday in the St Leonards and Hastings area.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Sussex Police on 101 or SNARL on 07961 030064 or 07957 830490 urgently.