A charity is appealing for information after a litter of kittens were found dumped in an alleyway.

Eastern Daily Press: These kittens were found dumped in an alleyway near Lowestoft (Image: Cats Protection Anglia Coastal)These kittens were found dumped in an alleyway near Lowestoft (Image: Cats Protection Anglia Coastal) (Image: Archant)

Five four-week-old kittens were found in an alleyway which runs alongside Lloyds Avenue/Church in Kessingland, near Lowestoft, on Saturday afternoon.

A dog walker spotted the litter and they are now safely in the care of the Anglia Coastal Branch of Cats Protection.

After being fed, re-hydrated and groomed for fleas and ticks, the kittens now seem to be none-the-worse for their ordeal, however the charity said if they had been left another couple of hours or more their survival would have been unlikely.

Eastern Daily Press: These kittens were found dumped in an alleyway near Lowestoft (Image: Cats Protection Anglia Coastal)These kittens were found dumped in an alleyway near Lowestoft (Image: Cats Protection Anglia Coastal) (Image: Archant)

The litter are thought to be around four weeks old. Staff have named the five after the England football team - Gareth, Rose, Alli, Jessie and Jordan.

The branch also collected five other kittens in the same location back in 2017 and the team are worried they may be from the same mother cat. They fear the owner, instead of neutering their cat, simply dumps her kittens.

Branch coordinator Christine Cutts said 'We would urge owners to contact rescues rather than risk the lives of kittens by dumping them out in extreme weather conditions and to ask for help neutering their cat if they are unable to afford to do so.

Eastern Daily Press: These kittens were found dumped in an alleyway near Lowestoft (Image: Cats Protection Anglia Coastal)These kittens were found dumped in an alleyway near Lowestoft (Image: Cats Protection Anglia Coastal) (Image: Archant)

'Neutering your cat is very important. Kittens are cute but they are also hard work and their care takes time, effort and money. Neutered males are less likely to spray smelly urine in your home or fight with other cats, thus obtaining injuries. They are less likely to roam reducing the chance of being hit by a car, neutered male and female cats are also less likely to get diseases through mating and the risk of cancer is reduced.'

During the first week of every month, Cats Protection holds a Snip and Chip event at the Lowestoft Over 60s Club where anyone living in the NR30-35 postcode areas and in receipt of income based benefits can purchase a voucher for £10 which covers the cost of neutering and microchipping one cat.

For more information, or if you have any information about the dumped kittens, visit the Anglia Coastal Branch of Cats Protection on Facebook here or visit their website here.