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Meet Beau, the cat keeping bus passengers company

Susan Guy Photography A tom cat sat on a lap looking contendedSusan Guy Photography
Beau might be the most talked about thing on Shepshed's Facebook groups, according to owner Victoria Reeve

A cat who keeps passengers company as they wait for their buses has become a local celebrity.

Beau the ginger tom is so beloved that people in Shepshed, Leicestershire, are even chipping in to fund artwork in his honour.

The 13-year-old feline belongs to resident Victoria Reeve - although even she admits "he's more Shepshed's cat now".

"Everybody looks out for him," she said.

She said so many people fed him that he often had to be put on a diet, and that her family sometimes had to go down to the bus stop in order to spend some time with him.

Victoria Reeve A curled up kitten sleeping on a pink throwVictoria Reeve
Beau is 13 now but has been a friendly cat his entire life, said his owner

"I did mind to start with, I have a few cats and I have had some taken in the past - but at least I always know where he is," said Ms Reeve.

"He's very good with children, I've had a lot of people come up and say he absolutely adores them, he always makes such a fuss."

Beau even remained a regular at the Bullring bus stop this summer despite work to install bus shelters, paving and benches going on as part of the Shepshed Town Centre Masterplan.

A GoFundMe appeal was started in August to fund "a statue, plaque or some form of artwork" for Beau and his "friendly face".

Susan Guy Photography A selfie photo taken by a woman with a white and ginger cat on her lap enjoying a strokeSusan Guy Photography
Susan Guy does not even use the buses but always stops for a hug

Photographer Susan Guy is not even a bus regular, but often stops to sit with Beau when passing by.

She said a statue in his honour "would be so sweet".

"I do walk past the stop and always give him a hug," she said.

Hollie Buchanan, 20, is from Kegworth but uses the bus to get to and from work in Shepshed.

She said: "He's always around, everyone knows the ginger cat. I'm terrified of cats but I've got videos of it on my knee.

"I work in the care home and he's visited there too a couple of times."

And Marrianne Morris, 58, from Shepshed, who works opposite the Bullring bus stop, said: "He's definitely an attraction.

"I've been here five years and you see him most days. The school kids stroke him, when people are sitting at the bus stop he always comes and climbs on their laps for a stroke - until he gets fed up.

"He's very friendly, everybody knows him - it would be quite nice to see a little statue."

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