Ref. 30930-24A CAT was injured after being caught in a deliberately-set noose snare.

BJ's owner Jennifer Arthur, of Toothill, noticed his swollen rear paw when she let him in as usual on Tuesday morning.

Mrs Arthur, 46, an administrator took the black and white cat straight to the Shaw Veterinary Centre, where staff led by vet David Warnes removed the snare, massaged the paw and administered anti-infection drugs.

There is no way of knowing how or where BJ stumbled on the wire snare after being let out the night before.

But Mrs Arthur, of Kirkstall Close, said: "It was terrible to see him in pain we had to wait to hear whether he would lose his paw because of the circulation being cut off."

Mr Warnes said he had never encountered such a thing before, but speculated that the trap had perhaps been laid by somebody hoping to catch rabbits, or even somebody who simply hated cats.

Wiltshire RSPCA spokes-woman Helen Briggs said the person responsible faced up to six months in jail and a £5,000 fine if caught and convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said the matter had been reported by Mrs Arthur.