IN a purrfect world it's your lucky day when a black cat crosses your path.

But when the black cat of New Milton's Whitefield Road crosses the path of the local posties, they get ready to run for their lives.

And they finally drew the line when Purrdey, the 11-year-old moggy owned by Hampshire and New Forest councillor Alan Rice prepared to make its latest attack on a postwoman trying to deliver mail.

Purrdey is tethered to a long piece of cord outside the councillor's house, but that doesn't stop him as Royal Mail spokesman Adrian Booth explained: "As the postlady was getting ready to deliver to the house, the cat was getting ready to attack her, so she decided against it."

Royal Mail then sent Mr Rice an official notice bearing the words 'Unable to deliver. Dog at large.' But the word 'Dog' was crossed out and 'Cat' was written above it.

Mr Booth added that no problems had been reported with the early morning first post deliveries, but happened when the less frequent second post deliveries were made later in the day.

He explained: "We deliver about 40,000 letters in the New Milton area and only 40 to 100 of those are second delivery. We have had seven or eight complaints from staff about this cat in the past seven or eight years.

"They attempt to make a delivery and the cat leaps into the air and sinks its claws in and draws blood."

He added that staff would continue to try to deliver, but would 'decline' if the cat was there.

But he stressed that there was no animosity and the councillor added: "Purrdey's a lovely old fellow and I would think he's past the aggressive bit. I have apologised to the postlady and Purrdey has asked me to send her a box of Catbury's chocolates."

He added that he was only aware of one other incident when Purrdey spat at a postman.