FIREFIGHTERS rescuing cats from trees is a decades-old cliché never likely to be shrugged off.

But new figures show it is not just straying moggies which force distressed pet owners to dial 999 – swans, hamsters, squirrels and even snakes have all been the cause of "costly" callouts.

Figures released to the Advertiser show London Fire Brigade has been called to 2,298 animal rescues since 2008, of which 109 were in Croydon.

Abraham Assefa, crew manager at Croydon fire station, said: "We do get a lot of calls which are not just run-of-the-mill stuff. Some of the stuff is hilarious.

"For crime you call the police, for injuries you call the ambulance, but for everything else the fire brigade gets called.

"I once went on a call to reports of 'a beast' at Lewisham station.

"People had reported hearing this 'beast' under the platform but when we got there to inspect it was just a cat.

"I've also had to climb on top of buildings to rescue stuck cats but it is an extension of our humanitarian service and nowadays we have particular stations which have expertise to deal with these situations.

"We have the specialist equipment, like ladders and horse slings, and the expertise to deal with these situations. From that point of view it's best for us to get involved rather than people putting themselves at risk, and generally we don't mind doing it."

Among the daring rescue missions, Croydon crews were called out to aid 17 birds, six deer, a snake and two squirrels.

And in July last year, the Advertiser reported how firemen were called to rescue a pet ferret which had lodged itself between a cement post and a brick wall in Epsom Road – most likely one of the five small "unidentified" animals Croydon firemen were called to.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "We rescue thousands of animals a year, sometimes with the assistance of the fire brigade.

"We don't call out the fire brigade unless it is a serious situation. There are a number of cases when they are needed with specialist equipment.

"At the end of the day if you have an animal stuck somewhere would you just want to leave it there or call the fire brigade?"

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "Animal rescues are extremely costly and take up the precious time of our firefighters who could otherwise be attending real emergencies.

"That said, we don't want people putting themselves at risk to save an animal.

"We'd ask people to keep a close eye on their pets in the first place and unless it's a real emergency, call the RSPCA rather than dialling 999."

Croydon fire brigade’s animal call-outs, 2008-2012

Birds: 17

Cat: 56

Domestic pet (unidentified): 4

Deer: 6

Dog: 12

Fox: 4

Horse: 2

Small animal (unidentified): 5

Snake: 1

Squirrel: 2