Rotherham firefighters came to the aid of a distressed cat on Monday lunchtime after the animal was discovered with its leg impaled on a metal fence.

Jack had been missing since Saturday and was found by his owner with a spike through his leg near to the family home in Swinton.

A fire crew from Rotherham used cutting equipment to free Jack from the fence – and transported him to a local vets in the fire engine with part of the spike still attached to his leg.

He then underwent surgery at Arncliffe Veterinary Surgery in Wath-upon-Dearne, and was said to be recovering well on Tuesday morning.

Watch Manager Gary Willoughby from Rotherham station said: “Luckily, the spike had only pierced the skin so the cat’s muscles and vital organs were still intact.

“The owners had been out looking for him since Saturday and after hearing a meowing they found the cat on the fence.”