A six-week-old kitten that was taped inside a shoebox in Essex has been rescued by a quick-witted member of the public who alerted the RSPCA.

The kitten, now named Loubi – short for Louboutin – was found inside the cardboard box in a bus stop outside a garden centre in South Road, South Ockenden.

The black and white fluffy kitten was found by a member of the public when she started to mew and they checked the box around 6pm on Thursday (28 April.)

RSPCA Inspector Marie Hammerton said: “The person that called us heard a noise in the box, so had a peer through one of the tiny holes and saw a little eye peeping back at them.

“There was no cat mess in the box which suggests to me she’d not been there long. She’s in very good condition. She’s such a gorgeous playful little thing it is incredible to think someone would just dump her like that.

“She will be up for rehoming shortly and I’m sure she will be snapped up.

“The Kickers shoe box had its lid taped shut with silver duct tape and had been left at the bus stop in South Road in South Ockendon. We would urge anyone who has information about this to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information about the kitten at the bus stop is asked to contact the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 0300 123 8018.