IT WAS the tightest squeeze of her life. Young Rottweiler Chloe found herself wedged between two walls at a Southampton home.

Eighteen-month-old Chloe was so tightly stuck between the walls that firefighters had to knock a metre-square hole in a neighbouring wall so she could be freed.

The seven stone animal had wriggled 18ft between a narrowing perimeter wall and a garage at a house in Butts Road, Sholing, while owner Dan Guthrie was visiting a friend.

The 18-year-old explained: "A friend and I had taken Chloe round to another mate's house, and while we were sat in the garden she was being nosy and sniffing about in the plants and flowers.

"She walked up to the gap between the garage and the wall separating the house from next door and before I knew it she had disappeared down the gap.

"I tried to stop her but it was too late, she had got well and truly stuck.

"My first thought was I have to get her out of there'."

While one end of the gap was wide, it narrowed down to just six inches.

Chloe had wriggled so far down the gap that her shoulders had become lodged.

Quick-thinking Dan, a chef at Moorgreen Hospital, phoned the RSPCA before walking round to nearby Hightown Fire Station.

Firefighters tried to slide two casualty shields - normally used to protect car crash victims - down Chloe's sides lubricating them with washing up liquid.

However she was stuck fast and the decision was made to take drastic action. Using sledgehammers, firefighters smashed a metre-square hole in one of the walls so Chloe could be pulled out.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Animal Rescue Adviser, Anton Phillips, said: "Chloe had been trapped for three hours before we were called and got so distressed that she began trying to chew her way through the kitchen wall of the neighbouring property.

"Chloe looked none the worse for her experience but she will be visiting the Vet in the morning for a check up."

After firefighters gave Chloe the all-clear, Dan's dad set to work filling in the hole in the wall.

Dan and his 11-year-old sister sister Maddie, of Marie Road, said they were just glad to have Chloe back safe and well.

He added: "Thanks to the RSPCA and the firefighters - they were brilliant."