Two kittens escaped a gruesome death at a recycling plant in Warwickshire after being thrown into a rubbish skip.

The four-week-old kittens were just seconds away from being crushed by an excavator used to pack down rubbish in the skips at Clews recycling in Banbury Road, Shipston, when they were spotted on Sunday morning.

They were pulled to safety and taken to the RSPCA animal home in Coventry.

Another kitten, which is believed to have escaped from the skip, was found by workers on Tuesday and has also been taken to the home.

Colin Clews, who runs the business, said the kittens had been lucky to escape alive.

He said:

“I was using the excavator to pull back the rubbish before packing it down to fit in as much rubbish as possible when another worker spotted the kittens and started waving frantically at me to stop.

“We couldn’t believe it when we saw the two kittens.”

RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Steven Lloyd was called to collect the two female kittens. He said the tortoise shell and tabby kittens were doing well despite their ordeal.

He said:

“It appears the kittens were deliberately thrown into the skip by someone using the recycling centre on Sunday morning.

“It is nothing short of wanton cruelty to dump these kittens knowing that they stand little chance of survival.

“The RSPCA would like to hear from anyone who may have seen these kittens being abandoned or who has any information at all to contact us.”

It is an offence to abandon any animal in a situation likely to cause it unnecessary suffering. Offenders face a maximum sentence of up to six months in prison, plus a possible £5,000 fine.