A cat has been honoured by the people who found, fed and fell in love with it.

Exactly three years to the day that Tetley the nomadic cat died, 50 residents and business owners from Walthamstow village gathered to remember him and officially open the garden dedicated to the black and white feline.

The Vestry House Museum Garden was packed with friends of Tetley who jointly funded the plaque and garden in his name.

Teresa Deacon, of Maynard Road, helped to create the garden and was one of many keen Tetley spotters.

She said: “It was a wonderful event, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“There are many, many cats about but Tetley was very special. He bonded with the community.

“People would find him on their bed, in their office and he would just stroll into the pub and jump on someone’s lap.”

Stories of Tetley’s antics were swapped at the event, which some people wore Tetley t-shirts to.

Village residents even raised the money for his vet bills.

Mrs Deacon also created a large picture board in honour of the most well-known cat in the village.

“Myself and my husband find it very strange not seeing him on the walk to the station. He didn’t come into our house but I was definitely a Tetley spotter.

“He could often be found in the many local cultural spots in the area.

“These included the Vestry House Museum, St Mary’s Church, the open air amphitheatre in the girls’ school and the quiz nights at the local community centre where he would happily wander in.

Such was Tetley’s celebrity status that a real ale, entitled ‘The Itinerant’, was named after him, and when he died a wake was held in his honour.

He is also featured in a painting on the exterior of the Nag’s Head pub.