Tabby cat's tail of 30 mile sports car stowaway (From This Is Local London)

Tabby cat's tail of 30 mile sports car stowaway

2:16pm Monday 14th June 2010 in News By James Nadal

A STOWAWAY cat hitched a 30 mile lift in a BMW's spare wheel compartment – but was only discovered when the driver reached Beaconsfield.

The tail of a female tabby was spotted sticking out the side of the car when the motorist stopped off at the Beaconsfield service area off junction 2 of the M40.

However, it could have been an even longer journey for the unwitting furry traveller on Saturday.

The pair were travelling from London to Manchester and only stopped to get a drink.

Station Manager Danny Whitelock from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out at 11.43am.

He said: "As the driver got out of the car he noticed something sticking out near the back wheel, above ground level.

"He touched it and it moved and he realised it was a cat's tail.

"The cat was stuck in the compartment where the spare wheel is kept and it must have got in there before they set off."

Station manager Whitelock began stroking the feline to gain its trust but it manoeuvred itself into a cavity near the offside wheel arch.

He eventually managed to pull it out safely wearing protective gloves and lying underneath the car.

Station Manager Whitelock who was at the scene for about ten minutes, said: "The cat seems fine and is now in the care of local police community support officers.

“The people in the car hadn't seen it before and don't know who it belongs to."