A hunt has been launched to catch a driver who reportedly hurled a cat onto the street as a charity fears more pets will be dumped due to the cost-of-living crisis.

A shocked passer-by says she saw the van driver abandon the elderly black-and-white cat in broad daylight.

The skinny female moggy, nicknamed 'Socks' by rescuers, was taken in by the RSPCA after it was dumped in Warwick on Sunday (October 23) morning.

The van pulled up in Woodville Road on the corner of Paradise Street at 10.30am.

A man then allegedly got out and threw the cat onto the pavement before driving off.

RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnson said: "This poor elderly cat was callously thrown out of a van and abandoned on the corner of the street on Sunday morning.

"She was lucky that someone spotted her and came to her rescue straight away before calling us.

"She's in a poor state and would have been very frightened by her ordeal."

She said the charity was keen to hear from anyone who "may have any information at all which could help our investigation".

The charity also urged people who are struggling to afford to look after their pets not to abandon them.

Nicola added: "We know that times are really tough at the moment with the cost-of-living crisis and sadly more and more people are struggling to afford to keep their pets but it's heartbreaking to see animals being abandoned in this way.

"We would urge anyone who is struggling to please reach out for help from friends or family, or charities.

"It is never acceptable to simply abandon an animal like this.

"This is a tight knit community who have all banded together to try and help this poor cat.

"I think they are all really shocked that something like this has happened on their doorstep.

"I hope that once Socks is back on her paws, she will find the second chance at happiness which she really deserves."

Anyone with information about the driver of the van can call the RSPCA's inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.