A Carlton Colville teenager has become the youngest volunteer for a charity helping re-home and care for cats.

And until June 7, Cats Protection's Anglia Coastal Branch will be marking Volunteers' Week by highlighting the huge variety of voluntary roles available for local cat lovers – with 14 year old Gemma Seager a shining example.

And of course, not forgetting the person she is following in the footsteps of, her cat cuddler mum Mel.

The local branch, which has volunteers and fosters mainly located in Oulton Broad, Lowestoft and Carlton Colville is hoping more people will step forward and help cats in need in the postcode areas of NR30-NR35.

The Anglia Coastal Branch is part of a national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres that help 190,000 cats every year.

So far in 2017, the local branch has rehomed over 80 cats and kittens as well as running neutering campaigns.

Branch co-ordinator Delphine Wood said: 'Just a few hours a month would make a huge difference and enable us to reach even more cats in need. What's more, we're a friendly and welcoming group, and becoming a volunteer is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills.'

Volunteer fosterer Mel Seager said 'Becoming involved is a great way to help make a difference to the lives of cats and despite working fulltime at a school, it is easy to fit caring for the cats around my hours and both myself and my daughter find it so rewarding.'

Gemma works alongside her mum as a cat cuddler and attends fundraising events where she dresses in a large furry cat costume.

To find out more visit www.facebook.com/ CatsProtectionAngliaCoastal or call Lorraine George on 07973 671275.

The branch will be holding its next Snip and Chip event on June 8, 11am to 1pm at the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft. You do not need to take your cat along. Call the above number for details.

Sad stories of three older cats looking for forever homes

These beautiful older cats are being passed over in favour of kittens.

Horace is a five year old who was abandoned and forced to fend for himself since last summer with his only shelter an overturned old wheelbarrow. Finally he is beginning to trust humans again and is ready for a new loving home. Horace loves to play and to be gently fussed.

Buzz is a loving, attention seeking five year old who could purr for England! He is shunned because he sadly was diagnosed with FIV (like the human HIV) which is in no way dangerous to humans but means he needs a home as an indoor cat, an only pet in an adult household.

Joy went into care when her owner died last December. She was very unhappy until it was found she had pain in an ear. Joy had major surgery and now needs to live indoors as she would not hear traffic. This lovely cat has gone through a lot and deserves a forever home.

Could you fill one of these volunteer roles?

Volunteers are needed for...

Specific roles:

Lost and Found Cats co-ordinator

Part-time van drivers

Cat cuddlers

Temporary fosterers

Feral cat trapping for neutering and return

An ebay sales co-ordinator

Or these:

Helping with social media feeds

Taking telephone calls from members of the public

Liaising with vets

Fundraising

Organising events

Transporting cats

Full information and details of the roles is available on the Anglian Coast Branch's Facebook page.