A cat who became stuck next to railway tracks for 12 hours in bitter conditions escaped unscathed after prompting an emergency response.

The black and white feline became trapped below the platform a short walk from Ashford International’s entrance yesterday.

Members of the RSPCA arrived at the scene at about 5pm in a bid to save the animal as temperatures plunged to below zero.

The response was triggered when, at midday, passerby Robert Doughty spotted the animal several metres below the platform near the Eurostar tracks.

It led to several residents taking the trip to the area while attempts were made to rescue it.

However, the cat made a successful bid for freedom and finally escaped shortly after 11pm following help from Kent Fire and Rescue (KFRS), who arrived several hours earlier.

Attempts were made to rescue the animal by coaxing it into a bag and hoisting it onto the platform.

However, the moggie, understood to be a stray, jumped out mid-lift but still made it to safety.

Network Rail staff stayed at the site until after 5am to help ensure the animal was no longer in the area.

A spokesperson said: “A cat that was stuck above train lines at Ashford International station has made its way to safety.

“Crews assisted Network Rail High Speed staff and the RSPCA to ensure the cat was fed and as safe as it could be in the circumstances, and come up with a plan to rescue it.

“We were also there to ensure public safety as there were concerned members of the public nearby.

“Due to the cat's close location to the live rail, the rescue was complex and despite several attempts from the crew, the cat made its own way off the ledge to safety.

“We'd like to thank members of the public for flagging and colleagues at Network Rail and the RSPCA.”