NOT even a cold jet of water from a fireman's hose could get Tom the cat out of his tree.

The fluffy black and white cat spent TWO DAYS 25 feet up a tree rather than jump down.

And he was only brought back to earth by the efforts of a helpful teenager.

Tom was chased by two dogs and ran up the tree in his owner Angela Ashton's garden in Laxey Road, Blackburn, on Sunday night.

Angela, 34, said no amount of coaxing would get him down, so she telephoned the fire brigade.

They suggested trying the RSPCA first, but they could not come out until Wednesday.

Angela, who was worried Tom would freeze if he had to stay in the tree, tried the fire brigade again and they came out as a special favour - but they could not get Tom down either.

Angela, who has two sons, Luke, eight and one-year-old Jack, said: "They tried to knock him out of the tree, shaking it, and they even put a hose on him but he still wouldn't come down. He was really frightened." Then, two days after Tom had climbed up, he was rescued by Ryan Mitchell, a friend of one of Angela's neighbours.

Ryan, a year nine pupil at Witton Park High School, shinned up the tree as soon as he found out about Tom's plight.

Angela said: "He climbed up like a monkey. After a few grabs he got hold of Tom and came down."

Angela, who has has not seen Ryan since he rescued Tom, said: "I would like to thank him for his help."

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