Stan the hungry kitten almost died after biting off part of his owner's bra.

The ginger cat became violently ill after he ate one of the straps from 21-year-old Victoria Tookey's underwear and it wrapped around his intestines.

Victoria's panic-stricken mother Sue, 48, rushed him to the Pet Doctors' Clinic in Brooklyn Road, Seaford, where a vet spent an hour operating on him.

Remnants of the 17in strap were handed back as a memento and six-month-old Stan was left with 12 stitches along his stomach.

Mrs Tookey, of Kingston Green, Seaford, said: "Although he swallows some unusual stuff he has never been as ill as he was when he ate the bra strap."

Mrs Tookey, who has another daughter Emily, 14, said Stan could not keep food down so the family decided he needed medical help.

She said: "Stan was in a pretty poor way. All of us have been very worried about him."

Stan and his twin Alf have been part of the family since they were eight weeks old.

Victoria, who is studying for a degree in radiography, in Kent, said: "Stan eats anything and everything."