MARMITE the cat attracted a large audience when she had to be rescued from the roof of three-storey block of flats.

The 13-month cat spent six hours in the baking sun before firefighters rescued her from the roof of a block of flats in Oakley Way, Caldicot last Thursday.

Firefighters from Chepstow and a crew with a specialist ladder from Newport were called in by the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Gary Lucas told the Review: "There is no way she is going to get down from there without help."

It is thought Marmite took fright after spotting a neighbour's dog and made for a drainpipe and didn't stop until she was well out of reach.

Marmite spent most of Thursday afternoon on top of the roof but when she spotted the ladder looming overhead she made her way onto the other side of the roof and settled down in the gutter.

Attempts to scoop her up with a net failed so a ladder had to be carried from the engine on the other side of the flats.

Chepstow fire station watch manager Steve Cooksey said: "Plan A didn't work so we had to come at it from another angle."

A very thirsty Marmite was eventually plucked from the gutter by firefighter Mike Lear, who also plays rugby for Chepstow, to cheers from the crowd as he brought her back down to be reunited with owner Charlotte Nash.

Ms Nash, of Oakley Way, said: "I can't thank them (the fire service) enough for what they have done for my silly cat – and I'd also like to thank the people of Oakley Way."

This is the third animal-related rescue carried out by Chepstow firefighters in recent weeks – last week we reported how they plucked a sheep from the banks of the River Wye near Thornwell and they were also called to School Hill, Chepstow to remove a baby gull from a roof gutter.

Mr Cooksey said: "It was making a heck of a noise and its parents were attacking people in the vicinity to protect it."