Scaffolders called in to rescue cat stuck in tree for six days

Millie, a white, black and ginger tabby, shot over her garden fence and up a 40ft conifer near her house after being scared by another cat.

Desperate attempts had been made to rescue the one-year-old family pet since it climbed the tree last Sunday evening.

The RSPCA and fire service both failed to coax her down, even after firefighters sprayed the tree where she was sitting with a jet of water.

Scaffolding was the final option but even that failed and eventually a scaffolder climbed the tree trunk to bring down the struggling animal.

Owner Donna Bracken, 36, said: "She's only young and had only been let out for a week. We've had her for eight months and everything is new to her.

"The fire brigade couldn't get their ladders up because of some nearby telephone wires but sprayed her instead, hoping she would come down.Millie just curled up into a ball and stayed there. She wouldn't budge.

"We then called in a tree surgeon who managed to grab Millie. But he lost his grip of her on the way down and she shot even further up."

Yesterday Miss Bracken's partner Simon Marsh, 41, climbed the scaffolding erected beside the tree to try to catch Millie.

Millie is the family pet of the couple, who have three children James, 15, Reece, eight, and Kai, three.

Before climbing the scaffolding Mr Bracken said: "I am not used to doing things like this. I'm a bit nervous but needs must."

After 15 minutes up the scaffolding he came down when Millie refused all attempts to be freed.

Scaffolder Dean Sedgwick, 41, then climbed the tree by the trunk and brought a struggling Millie down with the help of family friend Scott Walshaw, 26.

Both men suffered scratches on their arms as frightened Millie fought all the way to the ground.

Mr Sedgwick said: "Even after six days up there she put up a fight. She's certainly feisty. I hope I've made the family happy. When I got up for work this morning I didn't think I would be doing this."