'Headstrong' toddler in a flap

Toddler Manon tried to get out through the cat flap

Firefighters had to free a toddler who got her head stuck trying to crawl through a cat flap.

Manon Best, two, from Abergavenny found herself wedged in the door after trying to get out into the garden.

Her mother, Rachel, called the fire service who managed to free the little girl's head from the cat flap.

"This is one of the quirkiest call-outs we've been out to," said station officer Mark Francis from South Wales Fire Service.

Manon found herself trapped in the cat flap on Sunday afternoon.

She tried to get out through the cat flap and got her head stuck Rachel Best

Her mother explained: "Manon had been out in the garden playing and had been told to come inside by my husband.

"She was annoyed about having to come in and was a bit stroppy because she is a very headstrong little girl.

"My husband had shut the kitchen door and she was cross because she wanted to go back out.

"She tried to get out through the cat flap and got her head stuck," she said.

Mrs Best, who was at a friend's house, rushed home after getting a call from her husband and called the fire brigade.

"She was very calm and wasn't at all frightened and only started crying as the fire service tried to get the flap off her head.

"I've got three boys and none of them are as headstrong as Manon, but children are always getting into scrapes aren't they?"

This has to be one of the quirkiest call outs we have been called out to Mark Francis, South Wales Fire Service

One crew from Abergavenny fire station were called to help free Manon.

Station officer Mark Francis said: " When we arrived, the little girl's mum was sitting outside holding the child's head.

"It didn't take long to free her, it was just a case of dismantling the cat flap and twisting it to get it over her head.

"She was good as gold until we had to try and take it off and then she started crying a bit.

"But this has to be one of the quirkiest call outs we have been called out to.

"There has only ever been another one like it - where a four year old child got her head stuck between a piano's legs," he said.

And it seems like Manon has learned her lesson about trying to crawl through small spaces.

"I've asked her a few times if she wants to go through the cat flap again and she says 'no!'" said Mrs Best.