Amelia, 3, is reunited with her missing pets

Happy to be back home . . . Sam Perry, with daughter Amelia and cat Asbo

EVACUEES have been overjoyed at being reunited with their pets following Tuesday’s blast.

Three-year-old Amelia Perry couldn’t wait to catch up with her cats and rabbits.

The youngster was one of scores of children forced out of their homes after the explosion — but like many families, their pets were left behind.

Cats Dinky and Asbo — as well as bunnies Phil and Colin — were back in loving arms when a number of familes were reunited with the animals through an operation coordinated by emergency services and the RSPCA.

Amelia’s mum, Sam, revealed they returned to their Oak Street home on Wednesday afternoon after getting the all-clear.

She said: “We are one of the fortunate ones to be back.”

Marjorie Coppinger, whose dog Candy ran off when it heard a bang, said: “We had no idea where she’d gone. She managed to get into another house that was also behind the cordon and the RSPCA officer found her on the bed, frightened to death. It was such a relief to have her back.”

The RSPCA is still trying to trace the owners of pet rescued after the blast.

A Syrian brown and white male hamster and a female black cat and among the pets still in care. Anyone who knows their owners should phone 0300 1111 333.


Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle