CURIOSITY got the better of a cat that found itself stuck at the top of a 30ft telegraph pole.

The ginger moggy was stranded atop the pole in Little Lever, Bolton, for five hours.

But it was eventually rescued after it was spotted by nearby residents in Ennerdale Close who telephoned the RSPCA.

A fire-fighter had to climb a ladder to rescue the cat after crews were called by one of the welfare charity's inspectors.

But the terrified moggy was less than grateful after being saved following its marathon balancing trick.

It ran off as soon as its paws touched the ground following the rescue.

Steve Torkington, crew commander at Farnworth fire station, said: "Firefighter Scott McPhee volunteered to climb the ladder and rescue the cat.

"He grabbed it by the neck and carried it down, but before he got to the bottom the cat jumped down and ran away.

"It seemed quite frightened."

It is thought the cat, which was not wearing a collar and had no identification chip, had scaled the pole after it was chased by a dog early on Friday evening.

RSPCA Inspector Dave Anforth said: "When I arrived, it was sitting perched on top of the pole doing a balancing act.

"But it seemed quite happy. It was just looking around and surveying its kingdom.

"There was no way we could get it down, so we called the fire service. The cat was uninjured. We assume it headed straight home."

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