A couple's frantic search for their missing cat turned into a job for firefighters when they discovered he had become trapped in their chimney.

Owners Jim and Theresa Buckland were introducing Frank - their new one-year-old Apricot Point Siamese cat - to their home in Staines Hill, Westbere, near Canterbury.

They left him in the dining room to get used to his new surroundings yesterday afternoon.

Mr Buckland said: "When we came back in to the room he was nowhere to be seen and after a search we realised the only place he could be was up the chimney.

"With no way of reaching him, we became more and more worried for his safety and started ringing around to try and get some help. Eventually, our vet suggested we call the fire service."

A firefighter from Kent Fire and Rescue Service was sent to the scene to make an initial assessment and discovered the cat had become trapped in a very tight space between the chimney and the fire surround, with no way of releasing itself.

A crew was sent to help and had to remove the fireplace surround and disconnected a gas fire to reach the stricken cat, which they were then able to free, unharmed.

Mr Buckland added: "It is a huge relief to us that Frank was released safely and we are very thankful to the fire crews, who did a really good job. I have no idea what we would have done without their help."