A RESCUE mission was launched by RSPCA officers and locals to free a cat who was caught in a three inch gap.

Its owner was alerted to the frightened feline, who was wedged upside down between a brick wall and the footings for a conservatory, after hearing its screams.

Animal welfare officer (AWO) Graham Cater was sent to the Croft Avenue home in Shap to help the cat on October 15.

He said: “The tabby had somehow managed to get stuck upside down in this tiny, three inch gap between the footings of the conservatory and the brick wall separating the gardens.

“The cat was stuck about 2ft down so I suspect she’d somehow managed to crawl into the gap and then got stuck trying to turn around to get out.”

After assessing the scene, Graham realised the only way they’d get the cat out would be to dig down on the other side of the wall and start knocking the bricks out so they could create a hole to safely pull the cat free.

Graham added: “It took a long time but after two hours we managed to reach the cat and get her free.”