A cat and four kittens narrowly escaped freezing to death after being found in a Sellotaped-up crisp box in Britney Woods Park, Chelmsford.
The kittens, which were discovered in the Walkers crisp box by a dog walker at around 2.30pm last Wednesday (January 15), are just six weeks old, and animal charity the RSPCA is appealing for any information.
RSPCA inspector Marie Hammerton said: "Thankfully this box was found before any harm came to these little animals.
"Leaving kittens as young as this out in the current sub-zero temperatures in such an out of the way place could quite easily have had fatal consequences - they are just too small to be able to survive for long."
The dog walker, who found the animals near the woodlands by the A12 after his dog was drawn to the box, said they were curled up and cold, with just a bit of newspaper to bed down on.
The kittens, two white with black markings and two black with white markings, are now in good health. They have all been named after Spartacus characters from the upcoming film - the mum being Illithya and the kittens Varo, Cruxis, Spartacus and Gannigas.
"It seemed very fitting to name the animals after Spartacus characters. They have already been through a lot in their young lives," Ms Hammerston added.
"We urge anyone with any information about how they came to be dumped in this way to contact us on 0300 123 8018."
