Ginger tom Phil lost one of his nine lives when he was run over by a car - but gained another when the driver who hit him went to his rescue.

The cat dashed under the wheels of Julia Winckler and her partner's car as they drove along the coast road near Sussex Square, Brighton, towards their home in Peacehaven.

They jumped out and ran back 50 metres to find him lying in the road.

Photographer Julia, 36, said: "I saw this ginger animal run across the road. I thought it was a fox because of its colour."

The couple wrapped the animal in a blanket and took him to the emergency vet's surgery in Kemp Town, Brighton.

But the cat, who they named Phil, was barely moving and they feared he would not survive.

Julia said: "They did all sorts of tests and gave him a painkiller.

"We thought we were going to lose him."

The couple left the cat at the surgery and visited him the next day.

Phil was eventually transferred to a surgery in Worthing where he underwent a stomach operation.

After two weeks of treatment, he is recuperating in the RSPCA hospital unit in Patcham, Brighton, which stepped in and paid the £600 treatment costs.

Julia now wants to reunite the cat with its owner.

She said: "Phil is between two and three years old and has been neutered, which suggests he belongs to someone.

"He is really well cared for and is not just a stray. I really think he had a home before we hit him."

Julia would have offered Phil a home herself but already has a female cat called Don.

Anyone who knows Phil's owner should call the RSPCA in Patcham on 01273 554218.

Owners can have their cats and dogs microchipped at the RSPCA unit at a cost of £15.