Cat survives 70mph motorway jaunt on van’s roof

A cat has made a lucky escape after being trapped on a van roof as it began to travel down the motorway.

Helen Stevens realised there must be something wrong when she was flashed by a number of other motorists on the M1 recently, but the last thing she expected was to find a feline clinging on to her roof.

The black-and-white animal had found itself clutching the roof rack on her Ford Transit for several miles.

Ms Stevens explained the cat must have got on the roof of the car when she stopped at a petrol station in Melton. In total, she drove for 22 miles with the creature holding on to the roof and other drivers becoming distressed at what they saw.

"The van was carrying step ladders and the cat was clinging on for dear life. He was terrified," Ms Stevens explained.

She subsequently took the cat to a local vet where it was found to have sustained no injuries and was in good health. The practice then put out an appeal online for the owner of the pet to come forward and it proved successful when it was spotted by Ellise Pepper.

Ms Pepper is the mother of five-year-old Connor Russell, who had been worried about the disappearance of his feline friend.

"He held on and he didn't fall off, but I bet he was scared. He's never done anything like this before, although he does hate to be on his own," Ms Pepper said.

The cat – which is called Kick Buttowski after a popular daredevil cartoon character – was later reunited with young Connor.

You can be sure it will not be straying too close to any petrol stations or Ford Transits again any time soon.