Animal lovers who rescue almost 200 cats a year are within a whisker of winning a competition to find the nation's most caring cat charity.

Haworth Animal Welfare is the only cat rescue organisation in Yorkshire to have reached the final of the contest.

The organisation, set up by civil servant Sara Atkinson in 1992, beat around 1,000 other contenders to get to the final seven. The overall winner will be announced at a gala luncheon in Birmingham on October 1.

And if HAW wins the top prize it will receive a much-needed boost of £1,000 and a "generous" amount of cat food. The runners-up each receive £100 and a quantity of cat food.

Sara, who cares for the cats at her home in Lower Pierce Close, Cross Roads, Keighley, said the place in the final was down to the generosity of supporters and volunteers who help keep the organisation going.

"We are absolutely delighted to have got so far," she said. "We are so pleased because we are the only organisation in Yorkshire to have got to the final.

"If we win, the money will be a great help because we have to rely on donations and fundraising. We are aiming to build another four single pens and four kitten pens in the next two or three years."

HAW was nominated for the competition, organised by Friskies Go-Cat, by supporters and shortlisted to receive a questionnaire about its work.

"It was very thorough and got down to the real nitty-gritty, quizzing us about all aspects of the work, especially about the accommodation and how we look after the cats," said Sara.

"After that they sent along a judge who spent the whole day with us to see how we ran things. It was very tiring, but rewarding."

Sara had to explain HAW's cat fostering system in which mother cats and kittens are sent out to families, rather than staying in the pens.

That way the kittens get used to living in a house and hearing the sound of washing machines and telephones and other aspects of living with a family, she added.

HAW was set up in 1992 at Sara's former home in Haworth before moving into its present location more than a year ago.

There are six single pens, one multi-pen and two kitten pens. A further four single pens are under construction.

A competition spokesman said there were about 1,000 entries which were reduced to a shortlist of 15, then the final seven.

"It was chosen because of the dedicated work it tirelessly carries out ensuring that each cat receives the best possible care," he said.

Anyone wanting to help HAW or wishing to make a donation - either cat food, cash or physical help - should contact Sara on (01535) 674784.

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