A stranded cat has been taken to safety from a disused gas storage site in Aberdeen - only to bite one of its rescuers.

A police diver reached the cat, which was trapped on a concrete pillar surrounded by water in the middle of a 200ft-wide hole near Aberdeen FC's Pittodrie stadium.

Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chief inspector John Carle said: "The diver swam out to the cat, but it jumped off the pillar and when he grabbed it, the cat bit him - it was probably petrified."

The young male cat was taken to Mrs Murray's Cat and Dog Home in Seaton.

'Unusual rescue'

PC Sandy Osborne, who is in charge of the Grampian force's 12-strong diving team, said: "It had moved from the concrete island in the centre to a pillar and when he went for it, it jumped about 20ft, so he chased after it and eventually caught it.

"It was an unusual rescue."

Chief Inspector Carle said: "It was the second time we've had a cat stuck in there, the last one was a couple of years ago."

He said the animal was cold and wet after its experience, but believed to be uninjured.

Mr Carle added that efforts to trace the cat's owner were unsuccessful as the name and address written on paper inside its collar had been left unreadable.