LOCAL papers are often ridiculed for running stories about cats stuck up a tree.

But here is one with a twist — for Bella was stuck up a tree for three days before she could be rescued by firefighters and the RSPCA.

The cheeky feline climbed 40ft up a conifer on New Year’s Eve and remained there until the rescue effort was carried out on Tuesday morning.

Owners Stacey Watson and Chris Marsden discovered Bella had sneaked out of the house after returning from New Year’s Eve celebrations.

They called her name and heard her miaowing from the conifer in St Germain Street, Farnworth, where they live.

Stacey, aged 20, said: “We could not see her because she was stuck in the tree.”

The pair tried to tempt Bella with food and Chris even tried to climb it, to no avail.

Chris, aged 21, said: “We looked on the internet to see what to do and asked people for advice. We called the RSPCA and they said they would come out the next morning, which they did with four firefighters.

“They were great.”

Stacey said: “We were keeping her in as Bella was in season.

We think she might have gone to look for a boy cat and had got out at the back.

“She is a cheeky cat.

We are so relieved to have her back.”

Fortunately the conifer branches would have kept oneyear- old Bella warm and she was fed and watered after the rescue and spoiled with a cat treat.

John Duffin, crew commander at Farnworth Fire Station, said: “We had to cut away at the branches and Bella was brought down by the RSPCA inspector.”