A "HEARTBROKEN" Buckhurst Hill schoolboy whose pet kitten Tinks ran off during a trip to the vet has embarked on a desperate search for him.

Bradley Harradence, 11, and his father's partner, Theresa Bailey, took Tinks to the Goddard and Allen veterinary surgery in Roding Road on January 2, when the ginger and cream-striped moggy made his escape.

Bradley's grandmother Pat Harradence said: "Theresa and Bradley took Tinks to the vet. She took the box and placed it on the roof of the car while she opened the surgery door, but he pushed the box open and got out. Then a car came up the road, which we think frightened him and he ran off.

"We've been looking for him every day since. The worst thing is that Theresa took the cat's collar off because she thought it would get in the vet's way so no-one will know who he is or where he's from.

"He's such a great cat, very tame and friendly, so he could be with anyone. We all want him back."

Bradley was greatly upset by Tinks' disappearance, so the family, of Buckhurst Way, set about trying to track him down.

They produced 150 leaflets, which have been posted through countless letterboxes and put on lamp posts near the veterinary surgery, but so far they have drawn a blank.

Bradley's father, Eddie, has even been trawling the streets by car in the hope that Tinks would recognise the sound of the engine and come running.

Mrs Harradence said: "My son has been creeping round Buckhurst Hill because Tinks recognises the sound of his car. He's almost been done for loitering because he has been back to the same place so many times but still nothing."

Tinks was bought for Bradley last year by his grandmother following the death of her mother, who had promised to buy him a cat but never made it out of hospital to fulfil her promise.

Mrs Harradence said: "My mum died last August. She said she would buy Bradley a kitten, but she never managed to get him one.

"Instead, we bought him Tinker, or Tinks for short.

"We got him from a pet shop in Ilford, but we didn't choose him; he chose us. We would walk past the pet shop and he would put a paw out on the window.

"The man in the pet shop even saw how much he liked us because he sold Tinks for £60 instead of £75.

"Since he went missing things have been difficult for Bradley, but he believes Tinks is going to come back. It doesn't stop him being very upset about it though."

Anyone with any information about Tinks can ring Theresa Bailey on 07739 368678.