Maxine and Allan Mullen thought they would never see their pet Sid again after he went missing from their Lanarkshire home in 2009.

The couple moved to Devon last year and were shocked to be contacted by the Scottish SPCA this week to inform them that black cat Sid had been found. The couple returned to Scotland to collect the cat from the SPCA rescue centre in Bothwell, Lanarkshire.

Mrs Mullen said: "It's a miracle we've been reunited with Sid after all these years and we still can't believe it. It was devastating when he went missing and when we moved to England we didn't expect to see him ever again.

"Sid recognised us straight away when we came to pick him up and it's just so great to have him back in our lives."

Sid, who is about six, was handed in to the rescue centre on Wednesday with facial injuries. The charity were able to contact the Mullens because of a microchip on Sid.

Assistant manager Lorraine Alba said: "Poor Sid arrived in our care with a fractured jaw. Thankfully, he had been microchipped and we were able to contact his owners straight away, who were delighted to hear he had been found.

"It's likely he has been living as a stray for the past few years but we can't be sure how he sustained his injuries.

"We are so pleased we could reunite Sid with his family after such a long time away from home.

"This highlights the benefits of microchipping your pets as without one it is unlikely Sid would have been returned to his owners."