Oh heavens above 
I hear what you say about great scar across Ivan's nose Sheila but what sort of condition is he and grey fluffy tabby in otherwise? and for that matter, now you have had a chance to properly engage with young Alvin, would you say he is underweight? I'm just wondering if this little group might belong to someone. OK I realise by the state of young Alvin's coat that any owner would not be the best slave in the world but ............
Think it might be time to put up local posters/leaflet immediate area? You can't take on another three 
Alvin was advertised locally but no-one came back to me, and his posts are still on the NPR and AnimalSearchUK sites. I had to take the posters down after a couple of days because we get fined by the council for littering (yes, really!) I've added another post to the local Yahoo group for my town and will print off a set of photos when I can get Ivan and Vidal (new name) to pose for me. I'll pop these in the vet and the newsagents (not that Alvin had ever been near a vet before!)
It may just be that Alvin's "help me" cry has attracted some old friends but they do both look sorry specimens. Ivan's white socks are filthy although his coat is of a silkier texture than Alvin's, he could eaily be from the same stock as Tufty whose coat looked passable but had to be shaved as it was very tangled and painful underneath the top layer. Vidal's tabby coat is sticking out at all angles. He's got more of a feral look to him and didn't come nearer than the wall. Hard to know if they're underweight, because their fur is long. Alvin was pot bellied with worms but has evened out now so his condition is improving, but his weight was a not unhealthy 3.9kgs.
I do know that "er" at no.7 regularly feeds foxes and all the stray cats that arrive here, as well as my own cats (on cream FFS!) which is why they are attracted and hang around. She never takes responsibility for their neutering, though, and "doesn't approve of my methods" in neutering strays. These strays just end up making the resident cats lives a misery (just one of the many reasons I no longer speak to her).
This sounds a serious situation and think you need to let Alvin out
My vet says Alvin's a stray and that he wasn't doing well, he'd been sheltering in my garden through all that dreadful weather, that's enough to convince me. If I let Alvin go he'll just re-join the pack and end up in the same sorry state he was in a week ago, getting battered by Tufty and eating the crap no7 feeds them. At least with me he has a home and a chance. If the others hang around as a pair I'll talk to CP about them, meanwhile I'll try and get some shots today if they come back and post all three together, it might prompt someone's memory.
Oh Sheila If there is a girl there she might be pregnant 
If i can help in any way please let me know
Thank Pav, I'll bear that in mind.
