Meet Henry - a real-life cat burglar with a peculiar taste in swag – socks.

The mischievous moggy has brought back more than 50 socks to puzzled owner Anne Brandon in the past three months.

She is desperate to find out who they belong to, so she can return the plundered booty.

Anne, 67, a retired admin worker, of Charles Street, Loughborough, said: "It's getting really, really embarrassing. I've got a huge bag full of people's socks and I have no idea where they are coming from.

"I've been round to my neighbour's houses and asked if they're missing anything from their washing lines but no-one seems to know what I'm talking about.

"One neighbour told me she sees Henry walking along her wall with socks in his mouth all the time, but where he gets them from is a mystery. I just want people to contact me so I can finally give them their stuff back."

Henry's owner believes the socks are being taken from neighbours' washing lines or clothes baskets.

During Anne's granddaughter's fourth birthday party, Henry bought home his largest single haul so far of four socks.

Anne said: "We all laughed about it and although it was just a coincidence, it was still funny that he turned up with a large batch of socks on Eloise's birthday.

"He's a very friendly cat and everybody in the area loves him. He's always going into people's houses, so he's certainly not shy.

"No-one has complained, but I'm just desperate to return these socks."

It is thought that the socks come from homes near Charles Street and Alfred Street, in Loughborough.

Anne is worried about Henry suffering reprisals, however, and asked us to blank out his face on the photograph.

Sally Walker, who works in the cattery at the Woodside Animal Centre, in Scudamore Road, Braunstone Frith, said: "To be honest, I've never heard of anything like this before.

"Cats like to bring gifts or presents to their owners, but it's usually things like birds and mice.

"I have heard of cats coming home with joints of meat from barbecues, but never socks."

To help Anne reunite the socks with their owners, the Mercury has put pictures of the socks on its website - see the socks gallery. If you recognise them, call Anne on 07951 788398.