Fire crews have rescued an iguana after it scaled a tree in Maidstone.

The Jones family had an unusual return from their summer holiday when the reptile, nicknamed 'Iggy', was was spotted seven metres up a fir tree.

Michelle Jones and her son Oliver couldn't believe their eyes after spying the iguana up their tree around 10.30am yesterday morning.

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Mrs Jones phoned the RSPCA but the officer became delayed with an emergency, so didn't come until around 6.30pm.

She said: "It just sat there for over eight hours, I have no idea whose it is. I put it on a missing pets website but I've had no responses.

"I hope someone claims it, I can't get over it to be honest, it was so bizarre. We got home and I could just see its stripey tail hanging out of the tree. I was quite worried about it as the weather got colder."

VIDEO: The iguana was rescued after being spotted up a tree

The lizard, which is native to tropical parts of South and Central America, was rescued at 7pm.

Crew Manager Colin Gibbs from White Watch Maidstone, said: “This is the most unusual rescue I’ve had to deal with in 18-years in the fire service.”

Firefighter Lee Drewnicki climbed the ladder and brought the orphaned iguana back to the ground with the help of an RSPCA officer after the call out at 7pm.

The crew tweeted the news of the rescue:

Some questioned why the fire crews were called out to rescue the intrepid reptile.

But it was clearly a job for the professionals: