IT might be pouring all over the country in the wettest summer on record, but it's also been raining kittens for one charity.

The Gwent branch of Cats' Protection, which is run entirely by volunteers, has been overwhelmed by the number of kittens taken into care in the last six weeks and the fosterers who care for them are struggling to cope.

Gwent branch co-ordinator Glynis Davies said: "We have had kittens born in greenhouses, sheds, a barbecue and one stray cat even went into someone's house and gave birth to her kittens in one of the family's wardrobes.

"We are also having to take in cats and kittens which have been dumped in veterinary centres.

"Last weekend I found a litter of three and one of them was covered in maggots so needed an emergency trip to the vet.

"Luckily the maggots had not burrowed too deep so they were able to flush them out, but the vet had to remove a flap of skin where he had an abscess.

"Although he is only five weeks old he is recovering. I've called him Maggot and he and his sisters Maggie and Marjie are doing well, but a few days later and he would not have survived because the damage would have been too severe.

"He has been left with a hole the size of a five pence piece on his back."

There were three young kittens dumped in the village of Llanvetherine where one little tabby was lucky to be discovered by a resident.

Sadly the other two did not survive, one was found dead in a garden, apparently thrown out of a car, and the other was killed on the road.

Another two were found behind a skip by some Newport shops while a mother and two kittens were rescued in Cwmbran after the mother cat had been thrown out when the family had a new baby so she had to give birth outdoors.

The Gwent branch is now looking for homes for all the kittens so anyone who can help is asked to ring 0845 3712747 or visit http://www.gwentsouthcatsprotection.org.uk">www.gwentsouthcatsprotection.org.uk