AN RSPCA centre in Ringwood has one of the highest rates of cats in need of homes in the south.

The Ashley Heath centre currently has 67 felines looking for forever homes.

Summer is the busiest time for the RSPCA when unwanted and abandoned litters come flooding into the animal welfare charity, leaving its centres bursting with cats and kittens.

It is currently close to full capacity, with more than 900 adult cats and 800 kittens in centres and foster homes across England and Wales.

New figures show that throughout 2016 the charity collected over 30,000 cats from across England and Wales. More than a third of those were from across the summer months.

Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “Summertime typically marks the start of kitten season for us and already centres are struggling to cope with the influx of cats and kittens coming through its doors - each one in need of help and a new home.

“This is the time when most litters are born and, sadly, this results in a lot of kittens being brought in, largely because they were unplanned and their owners cannot cope.”

Neutering cats and rehoming a rescue moggy could help ease the cat overpopulation crisis.