GARFIELD the friendly feline face of Swindon and Cricklade Railway will be missing from his favourite place on the platform today because he is undergoing veterinary treatment.

The ginger moggie who welcomes visitors and volunteers alike to the Hayes Knoll station, has been a little under the weather recently and is due to be X-Rayed to find the cause of a bleeding nostril and a bump on his head.

Now the charity, which adopted him as an orphan kitten a decade ago, is appealing for help to pay for his treatment.

So far the bill is around £300 and just over £500 has been raised by supporters, but the volunteers who feed and care for him expect the bill to rise once his condition and treatment are known.

The vet suspects a grass seed could have become stuck up his nose and created an infection but further investigation is needed. The cause of the bump is also unknown.

Garfield is believed to have been born in the engine shed and was one of three kittens, but his mother abandoned them and the other two died. He was found clinging to life.

Adrian Thompson, who runs the friends of the railway Facebook page said: “He was born a feral cat but he has become quite friendly. He was adopted by the railway when he was found as a kitten and Hayes Knoll has become his home.”

In fact is the only salaried member of staff at the railway and even has his own bank account to pay for his food.

His official role is that of rodent controller, but his limited enthusiasm for mousing means mice have been known to scamper past him unmolested as he snoozes. They have even stolen from his food bowl.

But he is skilled at public relations. “He has become very much like a PR cat,” said Adrian. “He is quite a character.”

And visitors to the railway love him. “As soon as he hears a train coming up he is out on the platform saying hello.”

The adventurous cat has also been known to hop on a train and take a trip along the line to Blunsdon.

And he is curious enough to climb and eight run vertical ladder to get aboard the railway’s Thumper restoration project just to check on what the workers are doing.

Another volunteer, Bill Daly said: “He is very, very friendly. He always comes up to us where we’re working to have a look.”

Adrian explained: “He has access to all areas and because he has grown up around the railway from a kitten nothing frightens him.”

The organisation did look into pet insurance but found that because he didn’t have a home with a postcode he wasn’t eligible.

Garfield is expected to be back at Hayes Knoll in time for the weekend to greet his public. If anyone wants to contribute to his vet costs they can do so online at gofundme.com/garfield-the-railway-cat

Any money left over will go towards his food and treats.