A CAT found buried on a beach at Lowestoft has died, 24 hours after being rescued from its horror ordeal.

A CAT found buried on a beach at Lowestoft has died, 24 hours after being rescued from its horror ordeal.

The cat was found yesterday morning near Claremont pier with just its head sticking out of the sand. A passer-by went for help to the nearby Hatfield Hotel, and breakfast chef Muriel Healy went straight to the rescue.

The black-and-white short-haired cat had been buried in a 2ft hole, and the surrounding sand smoothed down.

RSPCA inspector Dave Mitchell said: "It utterly defeats me why anyone would want to bury a cat alive. It's possible someone just grabbed him and buried him for kicks – and that's appalling."

The RSPCA is asking for help in tracing the cat's owner, anyone who might have seen him being buried, and the woman who raised the alarm.

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA in confidence on 08705 555999.