An injured kitten hopped into a car engine in Herne Bay to dodge dive-bombing birds.

But the little moggie has tragically died during an operation to save her leg.

The terrified young cat jumped under the bonnet of a Ford Fiesta that had pulled over in Western Esplanade - after a concerned motorist spotted the animal under attack.

Driving instructor Alex Holder told KentOnline the kitten - no bigger than “the size of a Sky remote” - was being pecked and clawed at by two birds circling overhead.

But as he got out to help, the cat scrambled under his car and sprang up into the engine compartment.

This sparked a two-hour operation to try to rescue the kitten - but she could not be found.

But the following week, the 37-year-old saw the feline's photograph had been shared on Facebook.

His wife and Pass Driving School colleague Claire said: “Two pupils messaged the picture over to Alex last Thursday and he said, ‘that’s the kitten, 100%’.

“She was found in a garden near Albany Drive. They thought she was a ferret.

“A volunteer from Bubble 2 Bay who works with ferrets went down and found it was a tiny kitten. She managed to get hold of her and take her to the vets.

“The vets realised there was an old break in her leg, which is thought to be why the mother abandoned her. They think she was about eight weeks old.”

On Friday, the kitten – which was subsequently named Tesla by the volunteer Jess Kemp – was scheduled for an operation on her leg at Whitstable Bay Veterinary Centre.

However, soon after the operation, the kitten died.

Ms Kemp said: "She had the leg repaired, but it was under anaesthetic and as she was being sewn up when she passed. It was extremely difficult to find out.

"I had offered to do her nursing, even if I couldn't permanently re-home her."

After the cat entered the car’s engine two weeks ago, Mr Holder tried to grab the animal after propping the car up with a jack.

He then called the fire brigade, which sent crews to the scene just before 6.35pm, on October 9, and used a thermal-imaging camera and tools to search the Fiesta.

But, after more than an hour, the cat could not be found.

Mr Holder later drove the car to County Garage in Sea Street. However, neither he nor mechanics were able to find the moggie the following morning.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay