A litter of four kittens who were discovered hiding amongst recycling waste in a skip are nearly ready to be rehomed.

The six-week-old kittens were spotted by workers at a B&E Transport and Recycling Centre in Witney when they went to empty the skip on June 12.

Staff carefully removed the kittens from the piles of cardboard and took them to Cornyard Veterinary Practice where they were collected by the RSPCA. 

READ MORE: Karak Cafe fire: Cause of Cowley Road blaze revealed

Sharon Chrisp of the Oxfordshire RSPCA branch said: "I can’t even bear to think about the possibility of them being accidentally crushed with the recycling. This was a very lucky rescue indeed.

"We are immensely grateful to B&E Transport and Recycling Centre staff who made the discovery and took the kittens to safety. 

“They would have been so hard to spot curled up in the recycling, so it’s really a miracle they were found.

READ MORE: Henley Regatta: Arrests rise at rowing event in Oxfordshire

"We aren’t sure if they were abandoned or feral - it could be mum found a cosy quiet spot in the cardboard to set up home with her kittens or someone deliberately dumped them there.”

The four kittens, three girls and one boy named Felicity, Pepper, Serendipity and Olly are in care at the RSPCA Oxfordshire branch.

Ms Chrisp said:"They are absolutely adorable and love to be picked up and stroked.

"They will be looking for their forever homes soon, naturally they have already had a lot of interest though.”

The kittens will be placed on the branch website when ready for adoption.