Lincoln the Tesco Cat takes on the book charts

12 hours ago

Holly PhillipsEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Lorraine Clarke A ginger cat lying in a cardboard box next to a book. The book cover features an illustration of the cat with a blue collar standing in front of a newspaper with the headline "The Supermarket Cat". Beneath the headline is an illustration of the cat on top of a box of screenwash. Below that is a sub-headline, which reads "Lincoln gets a job." The background of the illustration is blue.

He may not be quite as famous as Downing Street's Larry, but a cat who has made a name for himself by charming Tesco shoppers is featuring in his first book.

Lincoln, who is also known as the "Tesco Cat", shot to online fame when he started hanging out in the foyer of the store in Hornsea, East Yorkshire.

Now, six years after he first went viral, his book - which is raising funds for a lifeboat charity - tells the story of Lincoln landing a job at a supermarket.

"It's going to promote community spirit. He's a cat but it's more than that. It just cheers people up," said owner Lorraine Clarke.

Lorraine Clarke, who has brown hair tied back and is wearing a grey sweater, holding a ginger and white cat. She is standing inside a home, in front of a white door. She is looking at the cat and stroking him. — Lincoln with his owner, Lorraine Clarke

When he was in residence in the Hornsea store, shoppers would take photos of the feline, who could be found sitting on bags of compost or boxes of screenwash in the foyer area, and upload them to his Facebook page.

"It's grown above and beyond anything that we ever imagined," Lorraine, 54, said.

"He's not just a local celebrity - people travel from other areas to come and visit him."

Lincoln was banned from the shop in 2023 due to health and safety concerns. At the time, Tesco said staff would "gently encourage" Lincoln to leave the store.

But his celebrity status was not diminished, and his owner utilised his fame to raise money for charity by selling calendars and Christmas cards featuring photos of Lincoln.

She subsequently got in touch with author and illustrator Catherine Owen, who has penned The Supermarket Cat.

"It's based on Lincoln getting his own little job," Lorraine said.

"He sees us going out to work every day and, obviously, he's popping off to Tesco, so he thinks: 'I can have a job at Tesco'.

"He patrols the car park and checks people's bags, and stuff like that."

Catherine L Owen/Blue Poppy Publishing An illustrated book cover featuring a ginger cat with a blue collar standing in front of a newspaper with the headline "The Supermarket Cat". Beneath the headline is an illustration of the cat on top of a box of screenwash. Below that is a sub-headline, which reads "Lincoln gets a job." The background of the illustration is blue and the author's name - Catherine L Owen - is featured at the bottom of the illustration in black writing.

The book costs £7 and all profits will go to Hornsea Inshore Rescue.

A spokesperson for Hornsea Inshore Rescue said: "It's fantastic to see Lincoln bringing so much joy to people locally and beyond and we're very grateful that his popularity is also helping shine a light on the work of our volunteers."

The book will be sold online, at The Townhouse in Hornsea and at the Hornsea Inshore Rescue shop.

Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, and watch the latest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices