Actor and former Croydon schoolboy Martin Clunes has become the latest celebrity to lend his support to the hunt for the so-called 'Croydon cat killer'.

The Doc Martin star and Royal Russell alumnus has penned a letter on behalf of animal welfare charity PETA, calling on the Metropolitan Police to "take every measure necessary to apprehend this dangerous criminal".

The South Norwood Animal Rescue and Liberty group believes more than 30 cats have been butchered in Croydon over the last two years by the same sick killer.

Mr Clunes wrote: "As someone who shares my home with several four-legged companions, I read with horror that some of the cats had been decapitated or dismembered – this is the stuff of nightmares.

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"The local community is understandably distraught and frightened. No one feels safe while this sick individual is on the loose."

In 2014, Mr Clunes presented the ITV documentary The Secret Life of Cats, in which he spoke of felines' "awe-inspiring" qualities like ultraviolet vision and whiskers that can sense air pressure.

At least seven butchered cats have been found in Addiscombe, South Norwood, Coulsdon and West Norwood since September last year. Some had been decapitated.

In January two cats and a fox were found beheaded in Crystal Palace, sparking fears that the suspected killer had widened their net of animal cruelty in south London.

Mr Clunes, who played laddish Gary Stang in the south London-set sitcom Men Behaving Badly, is the latest celebrity to join the campaign to hunt down the suspected cat killer.

Other famous faces to lend their support include X Factor hosts Dermot O’Leary and Caroline Flack.

In his letter, the actor echoed fears previously expressed by PETA that the killer could move on to humans.

He said: "Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals don't stop there – many of them move on to their fellow humans.That is a scary thought indeed.

"Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and given the malicious nature of these crimes, I implore you to take every measure necessary, including re-examining all available CCTV footage, to apprehend this dangerous criminal. The safety of the entire community depends on it."

The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.

Last month Peta more than doubled their reward offered to anyone with information that leads to the cat killer's arrest, from £2,000 to £5,000.

The charity has pleaded for anyone with information to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

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