A CAT proved it had nine lives after it became stuck behind a fireplace and had to be rescued by a team of fire fighters.

The crew from Loughton took nearly an hour to free the animal which was wedged in the fireplace at its home in High Meade, Chigwell.

Sub Officer Jon Ford said: “The fireplace had a gas fire in it and the cat had got behind that for some reason and was well and truly stuck. We managed to work the fire out and get in there to grab the cat and get it out.

“It looked as if we might have to break the back of the fire down but in the end we were able to get the cat out without damaging anything.”