A frightened feline had to be rescued by firefighters after it became trapped in the suspension of a car.

The cat had fled under the car after being found wandering around a building site in Hatterhill, Laindon, by a concerned animal lover who called the RSPCA and the fire brigade.

As they tried to persuade kitty to come out, the stubborn and terrified tabby jumped under the wheel arches of the car, wedging itself firmly around the suspension of the Vauxhall Cavalier.

Basildon Station Officer Martin Powell said: "We had to use air bags to raise the rear end of the car up.

"The cat then got a bit of a wash as we sprayed some water at it to persuade it to back up and out of the car.

"The woman who called us then grabbed him and picked him up. He'd been stuck between the fuel tank and the suspension rods.

"It's not often you get something like this.

"It gives you a chance to test your mettle and see if you can come up with a solution. It was also a good chance to put our training and a lot of thinking into practice."

The now slightly damp cat was handed over to an RSPCA inspector to be given a full check-up by a vet.

It has now been passed on to an animal sanctuary to be found a loving home.

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