An adventurous cat had to be rescued after getting trapped in a six-inch gap between two walls.

The family feline, called Pippin, got stuck between two garages on Beechwood Avenue, St Albans, on January 6 after trying to crawl from one end of the two houses to the other.

It was four hours before the animal’s distressed cries alerted the attention of a neighbour, who called the RSPCA.

Animal collection officer Kate Wright, who managed to carefully pull Pippin to safety, said: “It was a very difficult rescue and Pippin didn’t look very responsive in there.

“He clearly couldn’t move at all and looked pretty weak, but eventually I was able to reach him.”

Kate was able to bring the cat’s ordeal to an end after creating a makeshift long-pole stretching as far down the gully as possible and removing bits of rubble in the way.

She added: “He was freezing cold and very much in shock, so I surrounded him with hot water bottles.”

Pippin was taken to a nearby vets and thanks to a microchip was re-united with his owners 48 hours later.