A missing cat who became the unofficial mascot of a McDonald's drive-thru has been reunited with his owner, months after disappearing.

Harry the eight-year-old black cat went missing in May from his home in Gosport, three miles away from the fast-food outlet on Newgate Lane, Fareham.

Cat-loving McDonald’s employee Rich Allen, 32, noticed the forlorn moggie searching for food around the building and called Cats Protection’s Gosport Branch for advice.

Rich said: “I was so relieved and happy to hear that Harry was going to be reunited with his owner.

"I was determined to get him reunited or rehomed and I am so thrilled with the final outcome. I would absolutely do it again if I had to.”

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Cats Protection's Gosport Branch Coordinator, Kate Stapleford, said: “Initially nobody could get close to Harry and he would only appear in a really tricky location between the restaurant drive-thru lane, on the edge of a busy car park, with roads all around.

"Slowly Rich and his colleagues earned Harry’s trust, so much so that when he saw Rich outside he would make a beeline for him and settle on his lap purring contentedly."

Kate was then able to visit the McDonald’s branch and see if Harry had a microchip.

He did and she managed find out his name, age and his owner's previous address in Croydon.

Since Harry’s details were not up to date it required a number of phone calls to track down owner Amy Penfold, 47, who now lives in Gosport.

She was shocked that her beloved cat was safe and immediately rushed to the restaurant to collect him - but had to return the following night as Harry became spooked and would only trust Rich to get him into a carrier.

She added: “A neighbour mistakenly told me Harry had been run over so I never expected to see him again. Harry is now enjoying life back at home, has been purring non-stop.

"I really can't thank Harry's new ‘Uncle Rich’, his colleges and Kate for doing her super detective work with his chip. I’ll certainly be keeping his details up to date from now on.”