Four tiny kittens found abandoned in a cardboard box next to a dustbin in Winchester have been given names - Southern, Daily, Echo and News!

Animal welfare officers named the three dark tabbies and one black kitten after the newspaper, as a thank you for the publicity which led to them being found.

All four are being cared for at the RSPCA's Stubbington Ark shelter near Fareham following their discovery in Forder Court, in the St Cross area of Winchester.

The tiny creatures are believed to be from the same litter as a little kitten found by window cleaner Graeme Coombes, who heard her miaowing in distress.

The tiny creature had been starved, and hurled down a rubbish chute in Woolford Close, Stanmore.

She was found in a plastic bag full of water and died shortly after Mr Coombes found her.

Inspectors conducted house-to-house inquiries, but so far not one single person has been able to help.

On Thursday four more kittens, which inspectors described as the spitting image of the first kitten, were found half a mile away.

RSPCA inspectors claim the publicity the Daily Echo gave the case probably led to the culprit abandoning the other four kittens out of panic.

Now Southern, Daily, Echo and News, three girls and a boy, are being fed and well looked after.

All four have an eye infection which they are being treated for. Otherwise, they are fairly healthy but desperately underweight.

Originally, RSPCA workers thought the kittens were only two weeks old because of their size - but now it is believed they are more likely to be four weeks old as they are all eating solid food.

RSPCA spokesman, Jo Barr, said: "We have named the kittens after the Daily Echo by way of a thank you for all their support over this. The publicity has been really helpful. In all situations we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears."

It is still not too late for anyone with any information about the kittens to call the RSPCA in confidence on 08705 555 999.

"We're still keeping our fingers crossed," Jo added.

Meanwhile, the Daily Echo's little namesakes will be cared for until it's time for them to be re-homed in pairs so they can begin their new lives.