Max the Brightlingsea cat stars in own 2024 calendar

Max has become something of a local celebrity in Brightlingsea and has 5,000 Facebook followers

A cat that has become a familiar fixture in a seaside resort is to star in his own 2024 calendar.

Max, who has a large social media following, can be found around the cafes and beach huts of Brightlingsea in Essex.

His exploits have seen the handsome tom turn up as far afield as Colchester, Ipswich and even Luton and have inspired a children's book.

"He's not my cat anymore - he's Brightlingsea's cat," his owner said.

"He's cheeky, entitled - he loves the fuss," Georgie Dunt added.

Ms Dunt says Max is "cheeky, entitled - he loves the fuss"

Lisa, who runs Bateman's café in Brightlingsea, says Max turns up most days to eat his breakfast there.

"He's quite demanding - he gets our leftover tuna and prawns," she said, adding that Max could be "quite a bossy cat".

Dog walker Steve says he often spots Max on the nearby building site, speculating that the cat is "probably the most famous person in Brightlingsea".

His fame has spread onto social media, where Max has 5,000 followers on his Facebook page, - which allows Ms Dunt to keep an eye on Max's whereabouts.

Max has had to be recovered from as far afield as Ipswich and Luton

Max has made a lot of friends across Brightlingsea, including other four-legged ones

In the Brightlingsea Lido café - another favourite haunt - writer-in-residence Ruth Loten said writing about Max was "an absolute dream".

A sequel to his children's book is planned.

"There's copies that have gone to Australia, to the Far East," she said. "It's lovely to have something so unique to write about."

Georgie set up a Facebook page for Max to keep track of him as he roams far and wide

Max's 2024 calendar went on sale at Brightlingsea's Christmas Fayre

Ms Dunt said Max started roaming during lockdown and would gravitate towards people who were lonely.

"He seemed to find them, people told me he brightened their day," she told the BBC.

"There's been talks of making a statue of him. He belongs to Brightlingsea and everyone that lives here."

A percentage of the profits from Max's 2024 calendar will be donated to a local cat rescue centre.