Animal rescuers at the centre of a tug-of-love legal battle are writing to a judge to reveal where the moggie has been rehoused.

Michael and Jane Tulley looked after Saffie, a ten-month-old silver tabby, at their shelter when she was reported as a stray and found her a new home.

When they discovered what had happened, the cat's owners, Suzie and Peter Wainman, lodged a legal battle at Brighton County Court to force the rescuers to reveal their pet's new address.

Mr Tulley was due to write to a judge yesterday, following an order demanding he hand over the address where the cat had been rehomed.

His wife, who runs Fiveways Cat Rescue with her husband from their Brighton home, said: "Michael is going to write to the judge with the details of who the new owner is.

"We are fed up with the whole thing because we have done nothing wrong and we can't afford legal costs. We are a voluntary organisation."

Saffie had been taken in by the Tulleys just before Christmas after they received reports she was wandering the streets. They said she was not wearing any identification.

The couple have a policy of rehoming strays if they are not claimed within seven days and they say Saffie did not go to a new home until 11 days after they took her in.

They say the Wainmans, of Gardens Close, Portslade, did not get in touch until three days after Saffie had been rehomed after they had been directed to the shelter by the RSPCA.

Mr Wainman's three children had been left in tears when Saffie failed to come home.

They took court action to force Mr Tulley to reveal Saffie's new address and, during that hearing last week, Judge John Robinson was shown a picture of the cat taken days before she disappeared.

The case is due to go back to court tomorrow and, if Mr Tulley does not reveal Saffie's new address, he may be found in contempt.

The judge had previously said the cat may have to be taken to court to confirm her identity.