Mayor to award 'catizenship' to adventurous Polo

Polo is regularly pictured at places all over Tavistock and will be given an honorary title due to his popularity

A well-known cat that is frequently seen visiting a wide range of venues in his home town is due to be awarded official "catizenship" by the Mayor.

Polo is often spotted and photographed in unexpected places around Tavistock, Devon including in shops, the doctors surgery, a hotel, a museum, a pet shop and even the town's nightclub as well as people's homes.

A social media group was set up in February by a member of the public to allow people to share and follow his adventures, and now has about 1,600 members.

"There was no plan for him to be famous but the whole of Tavistock seems to love him," his owner Hayley Clarke said.

Hayley Clarke said there was no plan for Polo to become famous but many people in Tavistock love him

She said two of his favourite places included The Bedford Hotel, where she regularly has to pick him up from late at night and the Tavistock Pet Emporium where he plays with the toys as well as the owner's dog.

"Polo has been on the bus and luckily the driver found him and took him off because otherwise he may have ended up in Plymouth," she said.

"He goes in the pet shop a lot, the Co-op, the Bedford hotel. He has been to a couple of weddings."

She said Polo was "very kind and cuddly" and "loves people and adventuring" - he also visited her son at school one day.

Councillor Steve Hipsey said he will crown Polo the Esteemed Catizen of Tavistock

Mayor of Tavistock Steve Hipsey said he was contacted and asked if Polo could be recognised in some way, and decided to award him the title of Esteemed Catizen of Tavistock.

"To be perfectly honest I didn't know a lot about Polo," he said.

"I did some research, and it turns out this cat is quite amazing. He travels around and he is very comfortable and confident in town - he just purrs around the place and everybody loves him."

An event is taking place on Sunday at 11:30 BST in The Meadows where Polo will be presented with a certificate and a personalised bandana.

Jen Horn, who set up the Facebook page, said people visited the town with the hope of seeing Polo and there were fans as far as Germany, Sweden, Australia and France.

"Polo has really made a name for himself... he is quite well-known," she said.

"Anybody who's not having a great day he tends to find them and gives them a cuddle.

"He just makes people smile and he's a cheeky character."

Ms Clarke added: "Thank you to Tavistock for looking after Polo when he's not home."

Ms Clarke's mum has also written a children's book about Polo's adventures which has raised £500 for local charity Margaret Green Animal Rescue.