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Train station cat releases charity song for Christmas
All proceeds go to RSPCA and Stevenage homelessness charity Feed Up Warm Up.
Nala the Station Cat’s ‘Meow’ was played on Radio 2.

A cat from Stevenage is hoping for the coveted ‘Christmas No. 1’ slot following the release of her debut charity single ‘Meow’.

Nala, known on social media as ‘Nala the Station Cat’, is already a local celebrity at Stevenage railway station, where she greets commuters as they pass through the station.

However the four-year-old ginger tabby is now receiving national attention after her new song was played on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio 2 show this week.

‘Meow’ was produced by musician Danny Kirsch, who wrote the single with Joe Killington. Nala is also credited as the vocalist and songwriter behind the track.

All proceeds from the song are to be donated to the RSPCA, as well as Stevenage homelessness charity Feed Up Warm Up.

It received its first play on BBC Three Counties Radio on Sunday, before its official release on Wednesday. The music video, which has been filmed on location at Stevenage railway station, is set to be released before Christmas.

The song has already received critical acclaim, with Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills declaring it "quite good" on his afternoon show. Nala and her owner, Natasha Ambler, will be hoping it can challenge fellow charity musicians LadBaby’s five-year streak for the Christmas number one spot.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio DJ Justin Dealey, Ms Ambler said: "We'll start small and hopefully she gets in the charts, but number one would be fantastic".

Nala the Station Cat was unavailable to comment.

You can listen to ‘Meow’ here.

Image © TikTok/The Adventures of Nala

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.