THE sudden closure of a Newport factory not only put hundreds of people out of work, but it is also having a dramatic effect on its animal population.

Alphasteel closed with the loss of 300 jobs before Christmas, and now the factory on Corporation Road is mostly deserted.

This has caused huge problems for around 100 semi-feral cats that live on the site, since there is no-one there to feed them.

Gwent Cats Protection said it is desperately looking for help to re-locate the cats to outdoor homes in stables, smallholdings and farms, where they will have food and shelter.

The charity?'s Loretta Kedward said: "These cats have acted as mousers and vermin control for a number of years and have been fed by many caring cat lovers at the plant.

"Since it closed, there are only a small number of employees remaining on site who are doing their very best to ensure that the cats are being fed, but with so many cats, it is proving very difficult for them."

Cats Protection volunteers are on site this week and next week, rounding up the cats to be checked, blood tested, neutered, wormed and flea-treated by vets before re-homing.

Ms Kedward added: "Without our intervention, the long term future of these cats looks very bleak indeed."

If anyone can offer outdoor homes or donations of food, please call 01633 895223.