A WORCESTER tree surgeon came to the rescue when an adventerous cat got stuck 30ft up a tree.

Mike Hammond, who runs Hammond Tree Services, was enjoying his week-long Christmas holiday when he was woken by a phone call at 7.30am on Thursday, December 28. On the other end of the line was Keith Gregory, of Ripley Garden, Warndon Villages, who of was in desparate need of somebody with a ladder.

Mr Gregory's cat Max had been stuck up an oak tree just off Hastings Drive since Wednesday night .

Fortunately Mr Hammond, who lives in Adams Court, Kidderminster, was kind enough to give up some of his holiday and come to the resuce.

"Well I got his call saying a cat was stuck up a tree," said Mr Hammond, aged 41.

"I told my wife and she said Well, go on then, what are you waiting for?' so we got dressed, I rang him back and told him we were on our way."

Mr Hammond, who is more used to trimming hedging and dealing with dead wood, actually resuced a cat from a tree when he was 18-year-old and his mother still has the photos in frame.

One-year-old Max had been stuck up the oak tree for at least 12 hours by the time the tree surgeon arrived.

His owners had realised something was wrong when Max didn't returned from his walk late Wednesday night.

"At about 12pm we heard this pathetic mewing coming from outside. Then we saw him, about 30ft up a tree, "said Mr Gregory.

"The problem was there weren't any branches close enough for him to reach.

"We phoned the fire brigade but they told us to call the RSCPA. We called them but they said it had to be over 24 hours before they would come out.

"I decided the easiest thing was to find someone with a ladder.

"We phoned a tree surgeon who was local to us. He was in bed fast asleep but he kindly said he would come out. He really made the effort."

Max quickly recovered from his ordeal and by Thursday afternoon was he was sound asleep at home.

"He seems quite unfazed," add Mr Gregory.