by Sam Lennon

slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk

A family is desperate to find their sick child's lost cat which disappeared while they were staying in an Ashford hotel.

Tarlan Bisengaliev, three, whose Kazakh father has a link to the film Borat, is semi paralysed.

He lost his beloved furry friend Grapelli (pictured) when the cat diasappeared from the Ashford hotel the family were staying in on a stopover on their way to France.

Now Tarlan's aunt is returning to the town tomorrow (Friday) to put up notices and speak to local people to help trace the pet.

Alexei Angelis, said: "Tarlan absolutely loves his cat and is now heartbroken. He follows the cat around, which has helped him learn to walk."

Tarlan suffered a brain haemorrhage when he was two months old and now suffers from hemiplegia, a condition that causes paralysis on one side of the body.

The boy now cannot use his left hand and has difficulty walking.

The family were passing through Ashford as they emigrated from England to France where they believe Tarlan can receive better healthcare.

The cat was lost when they stayed at the Travelodge at the town's Eureka Leisure Park on the night of Monday, September 26.

Grapelli had been allowed to roam within the hotel room but was found to have completely disappeared the next morning.

The family was travelling by car from Yorkshire to the Toulouse area when they stayed at Ashford to catch the Eurotunnel shuttle from Folkestone next day.

Miss Angelis, who lives at Hitchin in Hertfordshire, will be appealing for help to find Grapelli when she visits the area around the Travelodge tomorrow.

Tarlan's father, Marat Bisengaliev, is a virtuoso Kazakh violinist who has won prizes for his work on mainland Europe.

Despite the mockery of his country by the movie Borat in 2006 he commissioned the film's musical director to write a symphony for Kazakhstan.

That musician was Erran Baron Cohen, brother of the film's star Sacha.

Anyone who can help find Grapelli should contact Miss Angelis on 07771 697308.