BBC Breakfast has paid tribute to the adored "local celebrity" who was known by thousands in Liverpool.
Sally Nugent and Nina Warhurst presented a heartfelt tribute to Paul the cat who was known by many as the unofficial Liverpool South Parkway mascot after settling there 13 years ago. Given the full name of Paul Newman after the Hollywood heart-throb, BBC Breakfast's Will Bachelor went down to the south Liverpool station.
Nina Warhurst said: "For the past 13 years thousands of rail passengers at a station in Liverpool have been greeted by a special furry friend, Paul the Cat. I wonder who called him Paul?"
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Sally Nugent continued: "Paul was a much-loved local celebrity. Following his death a few days ago there are calls for a statue to be built in his memory."
During the segment, the BBC spoke to a number of people involved in Paul's day-to-day life, from owner Steff Hudson, 65, who lives in Allerton, to Ian Healey, station assistant at Liverpool South Parkway.
Speaking to the ECHO earlier this week, Steff Hudson said: "He brightened people's day. He was always very affectionate with people. He hated dogs, and there are quite a few stories of how, if he saw a dog, he'd stand up and make sure they left the station because it was his territory.
"He made people happy. There have been so many comments from people saying they'd go to work feeling down and he would lift their spirits. I think he did help people a lot. There were a lot of children who loved him and were excited to see him. He was quite extraordinary.
"He would quite happily come and sit on people's knees and sit on their bags while they were waiting to go on the train."
Paul, a pedigree Bengal with a distinctive leopard-print coat, was adopted by Steff 14 years ago after taking a powerful disliking to his previous owner's husband. Formerly named Scooter, Steff renamed him after the Hollywood heart-throb who starred in classics such as The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Sting, and Slap Shot.
More than 500 messages of condolence to Paul have been posted on the Paul The Liverpool South Parkway Station Cat Facebook page, with some fans calling for a statue or plaque to be put up in his memory, along with a cat food donation point for a local rescue.
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