TWO newborn kittens were discovered dumped in a plastic bag and left to die in Kidlington with their umbilical cords still attached.

They were no more than two days old and their eyes had not yet opened when they were found in Nursery Road.

They were rescued by Stephanie Williams as she was returning home from visiting a friend's house at 1.50am on Tuesday Ms Williams discovered the abandoned pets after she heard the faint sound of a cat crying and noticed a rustling coming from tied up green plastic bag.

She took the kittens home, gave them water and placed them on a hot water bottle before the RSPCA came to collect them.

She said: "I was shocked and very upset when I realised that these two tiny kittens had been left in a tied up bag.

"It is just lucky that I was walking by at that time of night and heard them, they would not have survived the night.

“I am horrified that someone would do this to such tiny defenceless animals."

Doug Davidson, an inspector for the RSPCA, took the kittens, which have been named Mouse and Bean, to the RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre, Aylesbury.

A member of staff has taken them home to provide round the clock care.

So far the kittens have taken well to being hand-fed and it is hoped they will be strong enough to pull through, the charity said.

Inspector Davidson said: "Stephanie did a fantastic job looking after the kittens and undoubtedly saved their lives.

"It is just so depressing to think that a fellow human being could deliberately leave these kittens to die in the cold."

Anyone with information about the incident, or who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area, is urged to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.