An animal charity's first cat collection officers have started work in the North West after a supporter of the charity left it a �168,000 legacy.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) will use the money from the estate of Dilys Graham to catch, neuter and treat feral cats.

The animals are the same species as domestic cats, but become wild after being lost or abandoned.

It is thought that the UK feral cat population is in excess of one million.

'Tremendous gesture'

RSPCA North West regional superintendent Bill Cottingham said: "The Dilys Graham legacy will improve the welfare of feral cats considerably.

"It is a tremendous gesture."

Ms Graham asked that the money be spent to capture and then neuter feral cats at the society's centre in Salford.

The officers employed for the job are the first RSPCA cat collection officers in England and Wales.

Colonies of feral cats will be brought in to the centre and then returned to where they were found after they have been neutered.

The project is centred in Greater Manchester, but other areas of the North West will be targeted.

Colonies in Bury, Preston, Rishton, Chester, Burnley and Wythenshawe have already been picked up.