CRUELTY towards animals is on the increase according to new research.

The RSPCA's cruelty statistics for 2002 expose a sadistic side to people's treatment of animals leading the charity to label it a "violent and brutal year".

In September, a cat came close to death after he was flung from a moving van and hit a tree in Dartford, in what RSPCA chief inspector Steve Dockery called "a serious offence".

But Barney the cat was fortunate to find a pair of feline friends in Susan and Ron Keeffe, of Albury Avenue, Bexleyheath.

Mrs Keeffe, 48, a civil servant, said: "We live opposite a cattery which does a lot of work with the RSPCA and when we saw the cat's picture in News Shopper and found out he was in the cattery, our granddaughter asked if we could go and see him.

"When no-one came forward to claim him we were delighted we could offer him a new home. Barney was pretty nervous at first and if you dropped car keys near him he'd jump but now he's happy as anything and very soft and gentle."

To contact the RSPCA call the confidential cruelty and advice line on 08705 555999.