A cat named after TV action hero fell 30ft from a tree during attempts to rescue it.

Bodie, despite being an 18-month-old black Norwegian Forest cat, got stuck in the tree for most of the day near his Overstrand home.

Owner Dee Richmond discovered he was missing when he failed to come home for tea. He was trapped in the branches in the Ivy Farm caravan park opposite her High Street house.

The RSPCA visited. A fire crew was turned out but could not reach him.

'When we found out where he was we tried to get him down with ladders, but he fell. He is a bit battered, bruised and grumpy and has lost one of his nine lives,' she added.

Bodie is named after Bodie and Doyle from the 1970s and 80s TV series the Professionals- and has a brown tabby brother called Doyle.

Mrs Richmond added: 'He was not very professional getting stuck up there - and getting him down should have been a job for special branch.'