AN animal rescue centre has drawn up a list of cats that could help tackle the growing problem with mice at the House of Commons.

Among the chief mouser candidates at Battersea Cats & Dogs Home is a three-year-old black and white cat named Jill who, "with years of experience exterminating mice in her last home, will slink through the quiet corridors of Westminster with her black silky coat like a shadow in the night".

There is also Finn, a four-year-old ginger cat who "will pounce on anything that moves", and one-year-old Bloom who "has a cheeky and cunning side and is ready to break up the mouse party in the House of Commons".

The London-based animal rescue centre revealed that it made the offer last year.

Sightings of mouse colonies are common in Westminster and MPs have reported droppings and nibbled corners on official documents.

Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire, said: "I would certainly love to have one of their cats come and take care of the mouse problem in my office."