A TEAM of tough paratroopers have started a campaign to bring home a kitten they’ve adopted at their base in Afghanistan.

Paratrooper Liam Greenhalgh, 21, from Shadsworth, Blackburn, has joined his 12-strong unit in attempting to raise £5,000 to make sure that when they return home next month Sticky the cat can come with them.

Pte Greenhalgh, who is currently on his second tour of duty in the warzone with 3Para, said he and his colleagues had taken the kitten in after finding it near death while out on patrol.

They rescued the tiny animal from local children, who they said were using Sticky and his brother as a football.

The brother, who they named Relentless, died but they nursed Sticky to health and he has become a fixture at their base in the Nad-e Ali district.

The former Darwen Moorland pupil has now even launched a ‘Help Sticky’ website to help with fundraising.

Tania Chapman, 24, said her highly-trained soldier boyfriend did not want to appear ‘soft’ but said that all of the lads were determined not to abandon their beloved pet.

She said: “They have been feeding him from their rations and have been getting cat food and biscuits sent over.

“None of them want to leave Sticky there. They have had a difficult tour but I think they’ve really enjoyed looking after Sticky.”

Pte Greenhalgh’s boss Sgt Richard Waite said: “Essentially, we all agree, Sticky deserves better than being abandoned by us and we would love to get him home.

“We think he is worth it and certainly deserves it. Our tour finishes soon and we need to act now. Our target is raising £5,000 in order to get Sticky moving through the long and expensive process back to the UK.”

In England Sticky would either live with one of the soldiers or at their base.

They are working with the charity nowzaddogs.com, which specialise in the process.

The cat will either live at their base in Colchester or at home with Sgt Waite. So far £345 has been raised.

Visit the website below to donate to the campaign.