Gerri Peev: Paws for the passing of Sybil

Spare a thought for the former Chief Mouser of Downing Street. Chancellor Alistair Darling's cat Sybil died in London yesterday after a short illness.

The moggie briefly lived at Number 11, following on from the Number 1o cat Humphrey, who was evicted by Cherie Blair.

She spent many days commuting between Edinburgh and London, but the journey finally took its toll on ageing Sybil and she stayed with friends of the Darlings in her final days.

Sybil never quite settled in Downing Street. Perhaps it was the neighbours...