Officials from an animal welfare charity spoke of their delight after helping thousands of cats and dogs during a week-long operation in Thetford.RSPCA inspectors visited more than 4,000 homes and another 2,500 visitors dropped into a community centre at Thetford as part of the Community Animal Action Week.

Officials from an animal welfare charity spoke of their delight after helping thousands of cats and dogs during a week-long operation in Thetford.

RSPCA inspectors visited more than 4,000 homes and another 2,500 visitors dropped into a community centre at Thetford as part of the Community Animal Action Week.

More than 400 cats and dogs were micro- chipped and 200 neutering vouchers were handed out as part of the event aimed at providing free advice and assistance to animal owners.

Insp Chris Nice, of the RSPCA, said hundreds more animals had their nails trimmed and de-fleaing and worming treatments were distributed at the Redcastle Furze Community Centre, in St Martin's Way.

During the weeklong project that ended on Saturday, officials were handed two dogs by owners who could no longer cope or no longer wanted them. The RSPCA also found 37 cats living in one house, which had flea, neutering and worming issues.

Insp Nice said officers would be revisiting the home in Thetford to provide further assistance and reduce the number of animals.

He added that the charity also came across a number of obese animals and dietary advice was given to their owners.

"It has been a real, roaring success and the comments that have come back have been very positive and the whole community has been very supportive."

"There are a lot of animals in the Thetford area, particularly cats and dogs. The majority of owners are extremely well intended, but a lot of people have not responsibly neutered or micro-chipped their animals. Our message to people is to consider the costs involved before getting an animal," he said.