A MUM has shared her heartbreak of having to tell her son that his beloved cat was killed.

Kayley Smith from Newton-le-Willows was horrified to discover that her cat, Busby, had been run over by a car outside her home on Clarence Street on Friday, January 13.

The beloved pet was rushed to a nearby vet, however, the cat passed away due to the injuries he sustained.

Discussing the heartbreak, Kayley said: "We got Busby off a friend whose cat had kittens and Stanley cried when we picked him up because he was so happy.

St Helens Star: 11-year-old Stanley pictured with his best friend11-year-old Stanley pictured with his best friend (Image: Kayley Smith)

"He loves animals to the point he used to take snails and beetles off the playground and into school, so nobody stood on them.

"Busby slept on Stanley's bed every single night from having him and they absolutely adored each other. When I saw the post on Facebook about a cat being hit in my street, I thought it couldn't be him as I'd taken a photo of him and Stanley literally minutes before.

"Then I saw the description with the reflective collar and my heart sank. I ran around the front and back garden and shook his food bowl, and he didn't come back so I just knew it was him."

St Helens Star: The family had Busby for just under a year The family had Busby for just under a year (Image: Kayley Smith)

READ > DJ who's been in 'darker days' hosts event for mental health charity

The mum-of-two was grateful for the couple who had witnessed the accident and had taken him to the vet.

St Helens Star: Kayley's two-year-old son Frank pictured with the beloved family petKayley's two-year-old son Frank pictured with the beloved family pet (Image: Kayley Smith)

After being informed that Busby had died, Kayley was left in the difficult position of having to break the news to her 11-year-old son.

The 35-year-old added: "Having to break the news to Stanley is one of the hardest conversations I've ever had with him, and he was absolutely heartbroken.

"Busby had a little house in most rooms and Stanley took his favourite one upstairs into his room 'so he felt like he'd come back' which was heart-breaking.

"Although I understand these things happen and wouldn't blame the driver, I genuinely can't believe someone who ran over a cat would just leave it.

"Hopefully if one person hits a cat and stops after this, there won't be another child or family heartbroken having bad news."