TRADITIONALLY, it takes one firefighter to rescue a cat stuck in a tree.

But in Darlington, four police officers rescued a kitten from a house after it went missing from a local pet store.

They raided a home in Headingley Crescent and found the eight-week old kitten, allegedly stolen from Forever Pets, in Darlington.

Pet shop owner Adrian Roberts, who appealed in The Northern Echo for the kitten's safe return, said he had been worried about its welfare as it was such a young animal and required a lot of care.

After the report appeared in the newspaper, a reader tipped police off about the cat's location.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "There were four police officers. Two officers were at the front with two at the back.

"We knocked politely on the door and found the kitten safe and unharmed in the house."

The kitten, which was returned to the shop last weekend, has now been found a new home.

The new owners, who do not want to be named, have called the kitten Harley - short for harlequin - because of her tortoiseshell colouring.

Mr Roberts said: "She was fine and has gone to a good home, where she will be well looked after."

A 20-year-old man has been arrested and has been charged with the theft of the kitten. He is due to appear at Darlington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.