A terrified six-week-old kitten was abandoned and dumped by a busy road in north Essex.

East Anglian Daily Times: Eddie was rescued by a trucker, who called the RSPCA. Picture: RSPCAEddie was rescued by a trucker, who called the RSPCA. Picture: RSPCA (Image: Archant)

The tiny kitten was rescued by a lorry driver who heard him meowing in bushes on a lay-by off the A120 Coggeshall Road in Braintree, on Wednesday, September 13.

The dumped kitten then jumped into the cab of the driver’s car transporter.

RSPCA animal collection officer Joe White said: “When he opened the door to his cab he could hear meowing coming from a nearby bush and a little kitten soon emerged, running over to him and climbing up the steps to the cab to get in.

“The driver gave the little puss a biscuit to nibble on and rang us as he wasn’t sure what to do.

“He knew he wouldn’t be allowed to keep the kitten inside his lorry and couldn’t take him to a vet or rescue centre as he had already reached his maximum driving hours so he called us for help.”

The long-haired cat, who has been nicknamed Eddie, was collected by Mr White and taken to a nearby vet in Braintree.

Mr White added: “Vets think he is only around six-weeks-old and he is very skinny, he has fleas and has discharge from the eyes. Other than that, he is bright and alert, and he’s super-friendly.

“This is a really busy road with no nearby houses so this poor, vulnerable kitten must have been abandoned nearby to have ended up in such a perilously dangerous spot.

“To leave this poor little puss on his own here is unbelievable. It’s a miracle he didn’t run into the road and get hit by a car.”

Eddie will receive treatment at the vets and if he is not claimed, he will begin looking for a new home once he is healthy and old enough.

Anyone with any information about Eddie or how he came to be beside the busy road should call the RSPCA’s inspector appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and leave a message for animal collection officer Mr White.

The RSPCA is inundated with cats and kittens who have been abandoned. The charity, collected more than 30,000 cats in 2016, more than any other animal.

This time of year more and more cats are coming into the care of charities and less homes are taking them in so many rescue centres are full.