A TETBURY kitten as well as hundreds of grateful people are safe and well today thanks to a specialist rescue team based at Lydney Fire Station.

The Rope Rescue Unit was called to the Cotswolds town to rescue a kitten which had fallen down a deep well – a situation that would have been impossible for ladders because of restricted space, said firefighter Chris Martin.

"Since we were formed the team has built a reputation for working in difficult situations. We now get callouts from all over Avon and Somerset and further afield as well as this area," he said.

"The latest callout was from Weston super Mare where a young chap had driven a car over a cliff – we were just backup on that occasion but sometimes it's life and death, usually where climbing expertise is needed and helicopters can't get close."

He said the unit trained weekly at the fire station using the tower and also at Wintours Leap and other Wye cliff faces.

"We are on call just like the rest of the brigade, ready to go as soon as the alarm is raised. We also have the same response times," he said.

"The only difference is that we have different kit and clothing because it's not like fighting fires where a main concern is keeping people safe from burns."