While Postman Pat may be well-known for taking a cat on his deliveries for company, one Norfolk delivery driver got a surprise when he found two eyes peering at him through the parcels in his van.

Sean Dick, of Bull Close Road, Norwich, was delivering parcels for DPD when he discovered a ginger tom cat in the back of his vehicle.

It is not known where the feline, nick-named Walter by the RSPCA after the explorer Walter Raleigh, hopped into the driver's van for a trip across Norfolk.

Mr Dick, 29, had been delivering in the north Norfolk area on the day, last Tuesday, and it is thought the cat may have jumped onboard at Roughton, near Cromer.

The father of two, who has been a delivery driver for six years, said: 'I was reaching back to pick up a parcel, when I saw these eyes peering up at me.

'At first I thought it was just a cat's head but then I felt its body and it meowed at me - I got him out and thought 'where did you come from?'

'He's a beautiful cat in really healthy condition. I don't know when he got into the van.'

The RSPCA is appealing for the public's help in tracing the owner of the unneutered cat.

Mr Dick started his shift at about 7am on the day but it was only later in the afternoon that he discovered the cat nestling in the corner of his van behind the passenger seat.

He had been delivering parcels to more than 50 locations in Norfolk with the postcode NR11 and NR27. He visited numerous places from Marsham to Cromer, and covered more than 50 miles.

The driver said he recalled making a delivery to a property in Roughton, Norfolk, where a number of cats were outside on the porch, so he is not sure if he could have jumped in then.

After discovering the cat, Mr Dick wanted to find somewhere to take care of it, he then spotted an RSPCA inspector parked on the side of the road, and approached her with the cat.

Walter is now being cared for by the RSPCA, and the charity now wants to reunite him with his owner. Unfortunately he has not been microchipped, making it impossible for the charity to track his owners down.

RSPCA inspector Carrie O'Riordan said: 'Walter is a really lovely friendly cat, and someone must be missing him desperately.

'We are now appealing to the public to help us track his owners. If you had a parcel delivered on Tuesday and are now missing a cat, the chances are it's Walter. We really hope that we can reunite Walter with his owner and return him back safe and sound after his adventure.'

The RSPCA is urging all pet owners to have their animals micro-chipped, so that if they do get lost and are found, they can be reunited with their beloved pet.

A microchipping event will be held on October 27 at the Phoenix Centre, Mile Cross, Norwich from 10am until 4pm and pet owners are urged to bring along their cats and dogs to get them chipped for �8.

Anyone with any information, no matter how small, is urged to please contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.