AN autistic girl’s beloved therapy cat has returned home after going missing for more than two weeks.

Leo, a blue-lynx ragdoll breed, disappeared from his home in Bromley Cross on February 4, leaving little Nancy Andrews heartbroken.

The five-year-old who goes to Ladywood Special School has a special bond with the animal.

And Leo’s mystery 17-day disappearance sparked a huge community campaign to track him down.

But to the shock and delight of the Andrews family the three-year-old feline returned to their Darwen Road home yesterday morning.

Nancy’s mum, Melanie said. “My husband, Geoff, picked him up and came running upstairs. 

“Nancy got out of bed, her little face did a double take, and then she had a big smile and started stroking him – it was so cute.

“Nancy is so happy, I put some music on and started dancing around the kitchen. We are all over the moon, even my older boys, who are 20 and 18, were excited and pleased.”

And describing the special bond between the pair, she said: “He calms her down. While he has been gone all the crying she has done and the wandering around looking for him has been heartbreaking.

“There’s nothing you can do, and you can’t explain to her either, she would not have been able to understand why he was there and then wasn’t there.”

Following his ordeal Leo is underweight and has an injury to his foot – which vets believe was the result of being hit by a car.

But after being examined, he has been allowed to go back home to recover.

Melanie said: “It’s good to have a happy ending, you don’t get many of them.”