A French feline's incredible 1,200-mile hitchhiking adventure across Europe has ended in a heartwarming reunion after he was discovered in a lorry at a British warehouse. The intrepid cat, who boarded a HGV in Italy, traversed three countries and seven English counties before being found by staff at Southwater Vets in Telford, Shropshire.

Nicknamed "Pierre" by the veterinary team, the globe-trotting moggy was returned to his owners in Calais this week, thanks to his microchip revealing his true identity. Rachel Harvey, practice manager at Southwater Veterinary Group, recounted the astonishing tale of how they used Google Translate to contact Pierre's owner after he turned up unexpectedly at their clinic.

She explained: "It was quite a surprise to have Pierre brought into reception, with no idea where he'd come from or how he'd snuck his way into the HGV. Fortunately, he was microchipped and we learned he was registered to a French database. After some digging, Pierre's owner was traced and we managed to speak with her using Google Translate. It turns out he'd been missing for over 12 months from his home near Calais."

Following his epic journey through Italy, France, and the English Channel, Ushuaia – his real name – spent a fortnight in quarantine at the vets. Nicole Souillard, the overjoyed owner, expressed her elation at discovering her beloved pet was alive after a year apart and promptly arranged to travel to the UK for their emotional reunion.

After fleeing from his home in the chaos, Pierre, a globe-trotting cat, was put into quarantine in Dover for two weeks before being joyfully reunited with his owner Nicole. Rachel shared her elation: "This is the happiest ending we could have hoped for, for such an extraordinary story.

"Pierre is safely back home in France with his family, none the worse for his travels and certainly with a tale to tell his friends. This is fantastic proof of the importance of microchipping your pets and updating those details if your address changes. If Pierre, or should I say Ushuaia, hadn't been microchipped, the outcome likely would not have been the same."

Whilst at Southwater Vets, the adventurous feline was treated for an abscess under his chin and an eye ulcer as he completed his quarantine stint. Adding to the heartwarming tale, Rachel stated: "He didn't seem to mind his new surroundings and he settled nicely into his routine of wound cleaning, medication - and of course cuddles. When it came time for Pierre to begin his journey home, the veterinary team felt a touch of sorrow, having become quite fond of him."