An inquiry has been opened into Welwyn's Cat Survival Trust due to a "continuous failure to file its legally required accounts" over 11 consecutive years.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales confirmed on Thursday (January 11) that the inquiry had begun, into the trustees' compliance with legal duties and "fulfilment of its charitable objects".

The Cat Survival Trust was established in 1976 to advance research and education into wild cats and their conservation.

Alongside its research, the charity runs a wild cat sanctuary in Welwyn.

An inquiry will now examine the management of the charity, along with whether trustees have failed to comply with reporting duties, acted in accordance with legal duties and furthered the charity's objects for the public benefit.

A statement released by the Charity Commission reads: "Over the years, the commission has worked to encourage the charity to submit overdue financial information.

"The regulator took steps to establish if the charity was still operating and repeatedly sent filing reminders before opening a regulatory compliance case in 2019.

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"Through powers under the Charities Act, an order was then made for the trustees to submit all outstanding accounting information.

"Further failure to file, now totalling 11 consecutive years, has led the regulator to open an inquiry."

The Cat Survival Trust has been approached for comment.