A group of vets have travelled to Cyprus to neuter hundreds of stray cats.

The team, led by vet and partner at Medivet Hendon, Dr Jerry Dunne, flew out to support local rescue Friends of Larnaca Cats.

While there, they neutered more than 200 stray or feral cats and provided veterinary treatment to other animals in need.

They are already planning to return in April.

Cats are regarded by many as vermin in Cyprus and, because so few are neutered, their numbers increase rapidly - The majority live in poor conditions, scavenging for food and constantly at risk from injury, disease and starvation.

Friends of Larnaca Cats supports abandoned cats, feral and street cats and kittens in the city.

Its teams give medical treatment, vaccinations and treat them for parasites.

Dr Jerry Dunne explained: “The life of a stray or feral cat in Cyprus is a tough one and reducing their overall numbers is the best way to ensure that they can find sufficient food and become less of a nuisance to the local people.

“It was an intense week for all of us and a fantastic opportunity for my team to hone their neutering skills.

“Within a couple of days, we’d settled into a good routine and this meant that we worked very efficiently.

“It was difficult seeing the conditions in which the cats live and hearing about the mistreatment many of them have suffered but, knowing that each cat we neutered would help the overall cat population, spurred us on.”