Firefighters were called to rescue a pet ferret who got herself stuck between two fences.

The crew from Croydon Fire Station were called to Warrington Road, Croydon, at 8pm on Sunday to help free the 12-week old ferret, who had got her neck stuck.

The ferret named Sparkler, was then taken to Furry Friends animal rescue in Coulsdon, where she was unexpectedly reunited with her brother Cracker.

Emma Semple, the owner of Furry Friends had been called to a house in Borough Hill, Croydon, last Thursday, to collect a number of pets whose owner had gone to prison.

She said: "I was meant to pick up three ferrets, but when I got there the lady said two of them had escaped so I just collected the little boy."

"Then on Sunday the firefighters brought Sparkler here and the pair were reunited, but there is another 12-week-old baby on the loose somewhere and it would be great if people could keep an eye out."

"Sparkler is doing well, when she came in there was a big tick on her and she was really, really hungry. She cleared a rabbit sized bowl of food, but usually ferret's take a mouthful every few hours."

The ferrets will stay at the rescue centre for a month, before being neutered. They will then be looking for a home, but they will have to be housed as a pair, or as a trio if the third ferret is found.

As well as the ferrets Miss Semple, who runs Furry Friends from her home, also found two tarantulas, a leopard spotted ghekko and five rats at the property.

She added: "The tarantulas and ghekko were dying because they had no heat on them, they have now gone to a reptile specialist."