Blackie the cat's owners were not unduly worried when she disappeared.

There you are: Kate watches as Blackie emerges from beneath the floorboards. Picture: Steven Bradshaw

She had always been an independent sort and, after all, they were renovating the kitchen and the place was in a mess.

The work was completed, floorboards nailed down and the carpet laid.

Three-year-old Blackie had not been seen for two days... and it was then that her owners, Christian and Amanda Selvaratnam, heard her cries for help from beneath the floorboards.

Christian and Amanda had moved to Acomb from Hertfordshire last week, bringing with them their nine-year old daughter Kate and sister cats, Blackie and Barley.

Christian said: "Blackie was used to countryside surroundings and she didn't really know where she was.

"She has always been a bit of a wild cat. You can't really pick her up or anything, and she always goes wandering.

"So when she was missing we just thought she was exploring. After two days though, we were worried. We checked everywhere, with no joy.

"Eventually we heard her cries and traced them to under the floor in the corner of the kitchen. She must have got in there two days earlier when the workman were laying the floor and fitting units."

Christian made a frantic call to a local builder, Martin Hoggart, who came straight to the rescue with a circular saw and cut a hole in the floor.

Blackie was very frightened and at first wouldn't come out, but food finally encouraged her. Christian said: "She was very upset at first, but she's back to her wild ways already."

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