He was a special moggie who won a place in the hearts of literary fans across the globe.

Thomas was even photographed alongside Prime Minister Tony Blair.

And despite being no more - having passed on at the grand old age of 15, a victim of cancer - his memory will live on forever more at his adopted home of the Bronte Parsonage Museum.

The black-and-white tomcat was adored by thousands of visitors from as far afield as Japan and the USA as he lounged on the steps of the famous tourist attraction for hours on end, despite living just down the road.

He even had a special chair and cushion in Haworth's Tourist Information Centre, such was his popularity in the town.

And during his 13 years of being the parsonage's adopted cat, he even managed to have his photo taken with PM Tony Blair, when he visited with his wife Cherie during last year's foot and mouth crisis.

Now a plaque is being planned at the parsonage in his memory and some of his favourite cat mint - in which he loved to roll - will be planted in the grounds.

And his picture will hang proudly in the tourist information centre to remember the days he brought smiles to the faces of visitors.

He featured umpteen times in the Bronte Society magazine, which is distributed world-wide and included in the society membership magazine.

His owner 42-year-old Bradford College tutor Gary Hustler, of West Lane, Haworth, said he and his wife Molly, 42, a psychiatric nurse, and sons Tom, 11, and Jack nine, were very saddened by Thomas's death.

"The boys were in tears all day. He was a very friendly and sociable cat.

"He spent most of his time around at the parsonage or the information centre.

"He had a wonderful life - pampered and photographed by everyone."

Thomas was found semi-conscious in the parsonage car park and taken to the TIC.

Mr Hustler was contacted and he took Thomas to a vet. "He was very poorly and suffering so the vet put him down," said Mr Hustler.

Bronte Parsonage Museum manager, Alan Bentley, said Thomas was linked with the parsonage by people around the world because it was one of his favourite haunts.

"He was photographed countless times by visitors because he became so much a part of the place.

"He even got on the photograph of Tony Blair posing in front of the museum. He was mentioned in our annual report and in the membership leaflet.

"I'm not joking when I say people from all over the world asked where was Thomas?"

But he was barred from entering the famous museum - an order he always obeyed - after being caught on one occasion snoozing on Emily Bronte's couch.

Round at the TIC there were no such rules and Thomas had his favourite chair and was treated with his favourite nibbles.

One regular Bronte visitor always arrived with a tin of tuna fish.

And for the TIC staff Thomas will never be forgotten.

"We have hung up a big laminated photograph of Thomas in his prime," said tearful information assistant Brenda Poole.