THE owner of a curious kitten fears her insatiable thirst for adventure could land her in a spot of bother.

Six-month-old Nancy has a tendency to hitch lifts in strangers' cars, and on several occasions has found herself stranded in random parts of Harpenden - miles from her home in Marquis Lane.

The mischievious moggy's zest for exploration has seen her jump into people's cars parked in the street, with the drivers often oblivious to their extra passenger until it is too late.

Nancy's despairing owner Melissa Tredinnick said: "Nancy finds herself stranded at wherever her destination happens to be. Most of our neighbours are now familiar with her tendency to do this and make sure she is removed from their car before they set off, but on three occasions she has stowed away and ended up in different parts of Harpenden."

And if the inquisitive kitty is not risking one her nine lives begging a lift, she is pausing for thought in the path of a moving vehicle.

"She's absolutely fearless," Melissa said. "She's not scared of anything. Most cats would run away if a car was driving towards them, but she will look at it and try and get in it. She has no fear and is very curious - it's a killer combination."

Melissa insists Nancy's unusual habits cause her more sleepless nights than her two young children. On Saturday the tabby vanished for an entire day after following a young girl on a 25-minute amble from Sauncey Avenue to the shops in Southdown.

Melissa added: "In addition to her fondness for car journeys, she has also got stuck up a neighbour's chimney, got caught in tumbleweed in another neighbour's garden, sat immobile in front of numerous cars driving down Marquis Lane, and had to be collected from the florist at the end of our road as she had found a way in to the shop and didn't want to leave."

Melissa has appealed to neighbours to keep a look out for the wandering puss, saying: "We have written our address and phone number on her collar and so far someone has always phoned us, eventually, to tell us where Nancy is, but I do hope raising awareness about Nancy's behaviour will prompt people to check their cars before they drive off."