CAN you help reunite Inky with his owners?

The friendly moggy was close to using up one of his nine lives when he was spotted amongst the machinery in the plant room at the Dorset Echo's print centre.

The black cat had been seen around the print centre earlier in the week and when he was found in the plant room on Wednesday maintenance manager Kevin Frampton took action to rescue the cat, who was named Inky due to where he was found, and keep him out of harm's way.

Step forward Echo receptionist Caroline Brock, who kindly offered to look after Inky while efforts were made to trace his owner, keeping him in the mail room in a cat carrier Kevin had got for her.

With no immediate joy, Caroline was forced to take Inky home overnight and, while she said he was a "sweet" and "affectionate" boy, she is keen to reunite him with his rightful owners.

She said: "We hope somebody will come forward because it would be nice for him to go back to his home.

"It would be much nicer if whoever owned him claimed him."

Inky appeared to have suffered a leg injury as he was hobbling when he was found and also has a patch of fur missing from above his left eye.

Kevin took Inky to a local vet on the afternoon but Caroline said that, although he was obviously very hungry he was otherwise in good spirits and seemed in good health.

He was wearing a red collar and a bell, and given the way he has been enjoying the attention of cat-loving Echo staff, is clearly comfortable around people.

Dorset Echo news editor Samantha Harman said that she hoped that Inky's owners would come forward or, failing that, if someone was able to offer him a forever home.

She said: "He's a lovely cat and it would be great if we could reunite Inky with his rightful owners or find a loving home for him."

Anyone who has any information about Inky or who is able to offer him a home in asked to contact the Dorset Echo newsdesk on 01305 830999.

The Echo would like to clarify this cat has been checked for a microchip but it doesn't have one.