THIS is the heart-warming moment an adorable cat was rescued by firefighters after it got stuck in a drainpipe.

The female cat, called John, was found with her head poking through one end of a drainpipe in a garage in Clevedon, North Somerset, on Saturday (November 23).

Firefighters were called just before 10am and used ladders to reach John - before cutting her free with small tools.

The "easiest and least distressing option", the crew said on Facebook, was to "cut a section of the pipe out with John in situ".

The black cat was then rushed to a local vet, who sedated her and removed the rest of the pipe from around her neck.

John luckily had no injuries and has since been returned home to her relieved owner.

Revealing the story on Facebook, Clevedon Firefighters wrote: "A crew from Clevedon were called at 9:55am this morning (November 23) to a cat not stuck up a tree but stuck in a drainpipe.

"John (Yes John) the cat had got herself (Yes John is a girl, it’s a long story) stuck in a garage drainpipe from the inside of the garage.

"The crew used ladders and small tools to cut John out.

"The easiest and least distressing option was to cut a section of the pipe out with John in situ.

"John was then transported to a local vet who sedated her in order for the rescue to continue, where no serious injury was found."

Meanwhile, Vets4Pets Clevedon, who treated John, said: "Saturday took an unexpected turn when gorgeous little John arrived at the practice alongside the fire brigade after getting herself stuck in a pipe.

"An intravenous catheter was placed in her leg and she received some oxygen therapy and sedation whilst the pipe was removed by the fire brigade.

"She was then cuddled and pampered before being returned home to her relieved owner."