Surprised mum Lynda Hollings returned home to find a stranger in the house - a Siamese cat which had found the purr-fect hiding place.

Lynda saw sooty paw prints all over the carpet and furniture in her lounge. Brass ornaments around the fireplace had also been knocked over at the house in Burlescoombe Road, Thorpe Bay, yesterday afternoon.

In desperation she called the fire brigage. She said: "Two firefighters were on the roof sticking long poles down the chimney and two were at the fire place.

"It was hilarious. I laughed and laughed."

The cat shot off across the road after escaping through an air vent.

Published Wednesday, June 11, 2003

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