A TREE surgeon rescued a cat who had been stuck up a 25-foot tree for two days.

Greg Mariutto, owner of B&M Tree Care Division, rescued the cat after the fire service and RSPCA struggled to get him down.

The eight month old cat, called Vinny, had been up the tree in Haverhill since Sunday, January 1.

He had gone without food or shelter after becoming too scared to find a way down.

The fire service had soaked him with water in at attempt to get him down, but by Tuesday evening, January 3, he was still up the tree.

Mr Mariutto, 31, from Wethersfield, ended up climbing the tree in Chauntry Road.

A crown of neighbours gathered nervously as he coaxed the cat down.

He said: "I was at a job a few doors down and I heard a bit of commotion.

"A lady came to me and asked if I would help get her cat down.

"He was hanging on for dear life, bless his heart. The lady was quite distressed and they were starting to get worried.

"Climbing up trees is second nature to me but this is the first time I have ever rescued anything- I feel like a bit of a super hero."

Mr Mariutto, who set up his company three years ago, said he thought the cat was definitely out of a ladder's reach.

He said: "The fire service had been there before but I think Vinny was above ladder height.

"He must have been about 25 to 30 feet up."

Residents said apart from Mr Mariutto receiving a few scratches, both he and Vinny got down safely.