A HEARTBROKEN youngster, who lost a much-loved pet when she was forced to leave her family home, has had her Christmas wish granted.

Seven-year-old Destanee Maidment was separated from her cat, Pilchard, when she moved to Huddersfield three months ago with her mum Sue.

But, thanks to the Examiner's Christmas Wish campaign and the Huddersfield Pendragon Round Table, she now has a new friend to help her settle into her new life in the town.

Destanee was nominated for the campaign by her mum.

She said: "Destanee has risen above a traumatic year and has remained a loving, caring, well-adjusted, happy girl and I am so proud of her.

"She has stood by me as we fled domestic violence.

"We have lived in a refuge for three months and she has taken everything on board - different schools and moving from down South."

Ms Maidment said Destanee had been given Pilchard for a fifth birthday present and had been heartbroken when the cat had to be left behind because of the circumstances of the move.

The top of her list for Father Christmas was to have a new adult cat, which could never replace Pilchard but would help her look forward after a difficult year.

The campaign was only too happy to help grant Destanee's wish and Huddersfield Pendragon Round Table chairman Les Foulger went along with the family to help them choose a new cat.

RSPCA cat fosterer Mrs Rene Dunbar, of Trinity Street, Huddersfield said: "We do not normally encourage people to take our cats and kittens at Christmas, or to give them as presents.

"But because Destanee has looked after a cat before, is well aware of the responsibilities of cat ownership, and because of the family's circumstances, we were only too happy to help fulfil her Christmas wish."

* Anyone interested in joining the Huddersfield Pendragon Round Table can contact Mr Foulger on 078016 43208.