By Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

A distraught animal carer is desperate to fulfil a deathbed promise by finding her best friend's missing cat.

Barbara Allen promised Marjorie Watson that she would care for 11-year-old Blackie.

But the moggy went missing on December 4 after managing to open a window and escape.

Devastated Mrs Allen, from Pampisford Road, South Croydon, has made 1,000 missing posters and scoured her neighbourhood but has failed to find the mischievous cat.

The co-founder of animal charity Croydon Animal Samaritans, she said: "I've been beside myself, I promised Marjorie before she died that I would care for Blackie - and then I lost her almost immediately.

"I brought her here from Suffolk, and I was keeping her in so she could get used to her surroundings, but she must have managed to push open the window latch and get out.

"I've been caring for animals in my home for 31 years and no cat has ever been able to open that window.

"It's all down to my own stupidity that she escaped, but I'm desperate for someone to spot her and I can go and catch her."

Mrs Allen is offering a £100 reward for Blackie's return.

She said: "I feel I've let Marjorie down, no one else was able to care for her cat and I promised her I would give Blackie a home for life.

"I've been caring for animals for 41 years and nothing this bad has happened before.

"I've driven everyone completely mad by constantly looking for her and contacting people to see if they've spotted her.

"I'm not going to be able to rest until I've found her - I made a promise to my friend and I intend to keep it."

Blackie is described as a nervous black cat, and has a tiny tip missing on one of her ears.

If you spot her or find her, call Barbara on 020 8688 6568 or 07811 171215.