‘SINISTER’ goings-on are happening in a part of Wyke Regis, it is claimed.

Residents of Williams Avenue have spoken out after 14 cats have gone missing from a row of just six houses.

The disappearances have happened over a number of years, but pet-owners say now that ‘enough is enough’ and that the experience has put them off keeping cats altogether.

Concerned owners have contacted police, but said they have been told that without evidence, nothing can be done.

One owner said she is worried about the distress the incidents have caused her young children.

Lesley Newman and her family moved to the street from Upwey in October 2005. Soon after, in January 2006, their cat Kiara went missing and the following September their other cat Simba also disappeared.

Lesley said: “We’ve always had two cats together, as they are nice company for each other. We replaced Kiara with Millie, and when Millie had kittens we kept one, called Felix. We found Millie dead in the dining room one day and then Felix disappeared.

“After that we had Charlie and Archie, who were inseparable. Charlie was only a year old when she went missing and then Archie disappeared two weeks ago.”

Lesley said she knows of at least nine other cats, all from a row of six terraced houses, that have gone missing since she moved to the area.

She added: “I started getting suspicious after Simba disappeared. We put some leaflets around and so many neighbours said they had also lost cats.

“When Archie disappeared I went to the police and they were very sympathetic but there’s nothing they can do. I’ve had cats all my life, and I’ve never known anything like this. It wasn’t an issue before we moved here.

“It’s just too much of a coincidence, something sinister must be happening. I won’t get any more cats now. I just can’t cope with losing any more. It’s too upsetting.”

Neighbour Donna Grey’s cat Eddie has also gone missing. They had him for three years and Donna said his disappearance is ‘completely out of character’.

She added: “It does feel a bit sinister. We were all upset when Eddie disappeared. You get so attached to them.

"My kids have been really upset. It’s horrible seeing your children crying.”