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Two miracle kittens were saved from being crushed to death at a recycling plant.

The kittens, believed to be just three weeks old, were just seconds from going into a machine which bales waste cardboard.

But staff heard their cries and rescued them.

The kittens, nicknamed Mixed and Cardboard, are now being cared for at the Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, near Ringmer.

Nigel Mason, general manager of the centre, said he believed the kittens had been dumped in a bin by an uncaring owner.

He said: "These kittens are quite at home with human beings. They aren't scratching or spitting, as you might expect feral cats to.

"They weren't dehydrated and were in good condition.

"We can only speculate but it would seem likely these kittens were put in a bin by someone who wanted to get rid of them."

Tony Nicol (COR), 41, was working at SCA Recycling, Lakeside Wharf, South Heighton, on Friday when he found the kittens.

The machine operator said: "The bloke I work with heard some crying. I saw one on the floor and the other was on the conveyor belt to the machine.

"They would have been mashed to death."

Mr Nicol, of Bevendean Crescent, Brighton, said he hoped to give the kittens a permanent home once they were old enough.

He said: "We hope to have them once they're six weeks old. They are lovely."

The tabby, domestic, short-haired cats were among cardboard which had been collected from communal recycling bins in Hastings.

Mr Mason said whoever put the animals in the bin could face prison.

He said: "There is no excuse for treating animals like this.

"There are about 30 cat rescue centres in Sussex and any of them would have taken the kittens in."

He asked for anyone with information about how the cats came to be in the bin to contact the centre on 01825 840252.

11:50am Sunday 21st October 2007

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