A PAIR of Southampton mechanics helped animal rescuers get a kitten out of an unusual situation.

Cats Protection volunteer Marco Coco Antonia was out trapping feral cats across the city to bring them in to be checked over.

Marco had caught a small group of kittens and while transferring them from the trap into a crate, one kitten crawled into a small hole in the back of his van.

The hole, described as a vent behind the rear bumper, was behind the rear door of the van and despite Marco trying to free the kitten there was no way for it to get it.

The volunteer called a pair of mechanics at Iveco in West End for some help.

The men decided it would be easier to remove the bumper to get the kitten out and set to work to free the little feline.

Carolyne Kemp from Cats Protection in Southampton said: "Volunteer for Cats Protection Marco Coco Antonia had been out trapping feral kittens, when we transfer them from a trap into a cage we do this in the back of our van.

"Unbeknown to us there was a small hole behind the rear door that a tiny kitten managed to get into, which was some sort of vent behind the rear bumper, there was no way to get the kitten out.

"So we asked called on the lads who work at Iveco in West End for some help.

"After examining the van it was decided to remove the rear bumper to gain access to the vent, two big soppy mechanics set to work and managed to release the kitten unharmed."