'Suspected burglar' stuck in chimney

'Suspected burglar' stuck in chimney

A suspected burglar has been arrested after spending seven hours trapped inside the chimney of the pub.

The man - who is in his late 20s - was finally lifted out of the shaft by fire crews on Friday.

He told police he had first climbed into the ventilation shaft of the Twin Farms pub in Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle, at 2330 GMT on Thursday in order to rescue a cat.

But he became stuck and it was not until 0620 GMT his cried for help we heard by a delivery man.

Specialist equipment

He alerted emergency services who found the man wedged in a bend some 12 feet down the shaft.

Four fire engines were called to set him free.

Specialist equipment was brought up to the roof to try to cut him out but it became apparent that he was in an awkward position.

A looped rope was lowered down into the chimney and attached to his foot in order to drag him up.

Vent pipe

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We received a call from the fire service just after 6.20am to a man stuck in the ventilation shaft at this pub.

"Once the man had had been released he made his way to the roof but then came down and was arrested on suspicion of burglary. He is still helping with inquiries."

A fire brigade spokeswoman said: "The alarm was caused by a person believed trapped in a ventilation chute.

"Firemen located the person in a vent pipe after he had climbed into the vent pipe looking for a cat.

"Fire crews attached a loop to the person and gently eased him out of the pipe."