Have you seen Alley Cat?

A Cumbrian mum has made a desperate plea to be reunited with a cherished family toy after it was lost in Carlisle.

Jili Allen was given the cuddly tiger by her husband James 14 years ago, when the couple had just started dating. Since then, it has travelled around the world, accompanying Jili to Paris and the pyramids in Egypt.

It has even been as far afield as Australia.

The couple have since passed on the soft toy - which wears a t-shirt - to their 18-month-old son, Monty.

But a search is now on after Alley Cat went missing while the family, from Lazonby, were out shopping in Carlisle on Saturday afternoon.

"Monty was holding on to him, but had fallen asleep when we were going from Next Childrenswear to the viaduct car park, via St Cuthberts Lane," Jili told the News & Star.

"He must've dropped him, so we went back immediately but we couldn't find him."

Jili said that Monty has been calling out for Alley Cat at night and the couple have been in touch with shops and cafes, but to no avail.

"Someone must've picked him up," she added. "Usually if something's been dropped you'd find it propped up on the railings but we haven't found him."

"We just want him back. James got him for me to celebrate six months together. He's a tiger but he's always been called Alley Cat to us.

"He got the t-shirt five years later. He's been all over the world with me, I lived in Paris for a bit and I took him there, he's also been to the pyramids and Australia. Monty is attached to him as well."

Anyone who has seen - or picked up - Alley Cat can contact Jili on 07863 546596.