A cat grew hot under the collar when it got stuck behind a boiler.

Firefighters said they were baffled as to how the one-year-old pet got trapped where it did.

They were called to a house in Egremont Place in Brighton at about 10.20am on Saturday.

It was believed to have been there for a few hours before its owner discovered it and turned the boiler off.

A crew from Roedean Community Fire Station removed a pipe to free the animal, which was unharmed.

A registered gas fitter was called to reassemble the boiler.

Watch commander Spencer Bartley said: “I’ve never seen a cat in that position before.

“We still don’t know how it got in there.”