WHEN curiosity got the better of Pickles the cat, he well and truly lived up to his name.

The chocolate-coloured Burmese hopped into the back of an open BT van working near his New Forest home.

For five days he hitched a lift as the vehicle purred its way around Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, covering over 300 miles and taking in the sights of Amesbury, Highcliffe, New Milton, Ringwood and Verwood on its travels.

The mischievous two-year-old was only discovered when the telephone engineer saw him staring back at him from behind a stash of cable drums and cones when he visited Salisbury.

Unaware he had been providing a cat carriage service, the BT employee suspected the feline, with a distinctive kink in his tail, had a tale to tell.

Research by the RSPCA revealed the mischievous moggie had gone AWOL from his home in The Old Vineries, Fordingbridge.

Pickles's anxious owner, civil servant Lisa Warr, had repeatedly rung home from her holiday destination in Greece.

She was desperate for news of her furry friend.

On the civil servant's 27th birthday, father Geoff was able to announce that her pet had been reunited with the family's tabby, Socks, who had also been pining for his companion.

Yesterday, as her cat enjoyed his first photo-call, Lisa told the Daily Echo: "I didn't want to go on holiday because Pickles was missing.

"Afterwards, I wasn't surprised at what he had done - but I was very relieved when he was found.

"He is so nosy. If anyone leaves their car open he jumps in just to check he's not missing out on anything.

"He gets into so many pickles, which is why his name is so appropriate."

CAT CAPERS: Pickles back home with owner Lisa Warr.

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