The kitten – now named Gulliver in recognition of its remarkable journey – was discovered in the engine compartment of a National Holidays coach by mechanic Daniel Parnel on its return to the city on Sunday night.

Mr Parnel said: "I was told one of the coaches was overheating so I went to clean the radiator out.

"When I opened up the radiator panel I saw a little tail just sat on top of the radiator. I thought it was a rat or squirrel because of its colour – I didn't think it was a kitten. But it looked round at me so I picked it up."

Daniel took the cat to the vet for a check-up and was told it was a feral cat.

As there are none in the vicinity of the garage and the coach would have only made a couple of brief stops on the way home, added to the fact there are a lot of feral cats in Arrochar, near Glasgow, he thinks the kitten must have climbed into the compartment in Scotland for warmth before the coach drove off.

The kitten is now doing well and running round his new home.

Daniel added: "The kitten likes to travel so I thought I'd call it Gulliver."