HE’S the purring crowd-puller at a Test Valley tourist attraction.

But staff at the National Trust’s Mottisfont Abbey feared the worst when Murphy went missing on December 13.

Despite searches of the grounds, staff were unable to find the beloved moggy.

However, worried staff received an unexpected call more than three weeks later to say he’d been found four miles away at Braishfield.

Trust spokesperson, Victoria Bell, said: “We all feared the worst here. Murphy is a bit of a famous cat at Mottisfont.

“We were called by a vet in Romsey to say that he’d been found. Apparently, someone had found him in Braishfield and brought him into the vet. We’d like to say thank you to that person. Murphy is now back with us, safe and sound. Let’s hope he doesn’t go on any more long distance holidays.”

Head gardener, David Stone, who took on Murphy nine years ago when he was up for adoption at Nine Lives cat rescue, said he was thrilled it was a happy ending.

“He is often the star of the show in summer – never mind the roses,” said David, who added that Murphy “looked in good shape”.

Trust staff think Murphy may have found himself miles from home after sneaking into a visitor’s car or a delivery vehicle.