A lucky black cat who saved his owners from a fire at their north Wales home has reached the finals of a national competition run by an animal charity.

Gerald Davies, his wife and 23-year-old son were in bed in their house in Gwersyllt, near Wrexham, when their kitchen cooker caught fire in August last year.

If it hadn't been for Barney we wouldn't be here now Gerald Davies, Barney's owner

Six-year-old Barney woke the family by racing upstairs and making lots of noise.

His heroic antics have landed him a place in a competition run by the Cats Protection League.

The organisation, which rescues and rehomes unwanted and abandoned cats, is looking to name it cat of the year.

Mr and Mrs Davies are travelling to London on 13 February for the ceremony.

But 56-year-old Mr Davies said the black cat, who has lived with them since he was left to fend for himself by his previous owners, is already a winner to them.

"We're just doing this for Barney - if he doesn't win it doesn't matter," he said.

Plastic fumes

Mr Davies said the family were lucky that Barney was nearby on the night of the fire.

"There had been an electrical fault on the cooker and the house was filled with smoke - if it hadn't been for Barney we wouldn't be here now," he said.

"Normally he doesn't go upstairs but he went up that day and was making a loud noise.

"The smoke was dangerous and there were fumes from the plastic.

"We'd only been in here about six days, but Barney went upstairs in the early hours of the morning and woke my son.

"He thought the cat wanted to go out, but when my son put the light on he found the house full of smoke.

"After what he did, he means everything to us - I think we wouldn't be here now because the smoke in the house that night was unbelievable," he added.