Agnes cancels her holiday to find missing in action Mia

WHILE thousands had their holiday dreams crushed by the return of a volcanic ash cloud this week, one city woman saw hers plans for a break go up in smoke because of a missing cat.

• Agnes Campbell with the empty box. Mia ran off in the car park of the cattery, thanks to a loose clasp.

Instead of sunning herself on the golf course in Majorca this week Agnes Campbell has been scouring the streets of Colinton after her moggy Mia made a bolt for freedom en route to the cattery.

The pensioner was so desperate to find 'missing in action' Mia that she sent husband Robert off to Majorca without her.

Mrs Campbell was all set to leave her home in Penicuik for an 800 dream break with 17 friends on Saturday morning when her black and white cat escaped from her box in the cattery's car park and fled.

Since then the former Edinburgh Crystal worker has been frantically searching the streets and even fields of the city's southside for the eight-year-old cat, which survives on a special diet.

The distraught 66-year-old said: "She just bolted from the carry cage. The clasp must have come loose or something. Then she was off and over a wall.

"It's such a vast area it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. We just don't know where she might be.

"We got Mia from a rescue home. It's taken four years to build her confidence up. She was so nervous when we first got her and we don't let her go out at night. She is so timid that I don't think she would approach anyone.

"Me and my son have been searching everywhere, calling her name, but other cats have been coming forward. It's just so upsetting.

"I phoned the microchip company and they said she would put a message out to all the police forces and the agencies they work with, but it took all weekend just to get through to them."

Mrs Campbell told retired taxi driver husband Robert, 69, to go on the week's holiday as planned while she and son Gary McGinley, 41, carried on the search.

She said: "We booked more than a year ago and we'd really been looking forward to it. My husband Robert is devastated as well but there's no point us both not going, so he went on the holiday.

"The money for the holiday doesn't matter, I just want her back. I've been sitting by the phone crying my eyes out and waiting for someone to ring.

"My son Gary has been driving me around for hours on Saturday night and again yesterday trying to find her. She's not eaten since Saturday.

"I'm just sick with worry. We'll be so grateful to hear from anyone who might have seen her.

"She's wearing a yellow collar and she's just beautiful."

If you've seen Mia, e-mail [email protected]