By Victoria Raimes

Last updated 12:41, Wednesday, 14 January 2009

A family is celebrating the return of their hitch-hiking cat – after she travelled 18 miles in a Tesco delivery van.

Abigail and Imogen Rome with Chico

Three-year-old Chico had an unexpected ride to Carlisle when she leapt into the van as it dropped off shopping at the home of the Rome family at Easton.

It was only when a woman living in Currock telephoned Joanne Rome to ask if they were missing a black and white cat that the family realised their pet had gone.

Joanne, 39, husband Colin, 47, and daughters Abigail, five, and Imogen, 22 months, then realised their cheeky cat had hitched a lift to the city.

Joanne said: “When a woman rang to say Tesco had dropped some food off in Currock and our cat jumped out I was astounded.

“Although I wasn’t that surprised as she’s a really nosy cat. Whenever we go for walks she follows us down the road.

“All of our food came from the refrigerator section of the van so she probably climbed in that part. It must have been a chilly ride for her. Curiosity could have killed the cat this time.”

Unfortunately it wasn’t a straightforward case of picking Chico up after her adventure on Saturday morning.

On being discovered in the van she scarpered, leaving the Romes no choice but to travel to Currock and scour the streets.

Joanne said: “Walking around shouting ‘Chico where are you?’ got a few funny looks, that’s for sure.

“We searched for hours without any luck, but as dusk was drawing in my husband heard a miowing coming from under a car.

“We found her curled up on the wheel, terrified and traumatised.”

Now Chico is back home with the family – but unlike her popstar namesake, she will be trying to stay out of the limelight from now on.

Joanne said: “She’s quite traumatised and a bit upset. But I still caught her nosing in the cupboards yesterday so she clearly hasn’t entirely learnt her lesson.

“I don’t know what she was doing jumping in the van. Perhaps Chico wanted to follow in the footsteps of Postman Pat’s cat Jess.

“The main thing is we’ve got Chico back. She’s the girls’ pet and they would have been devastated if she hadn’t showed up. She’s part of the family.”