Firefighters have launched a campaign to stop residents using them as a pet rescue service, after new figures showed a sharp increase in animal-related call outs.

In April, Wimbledon and Mitcham fire crews were despatched a bird trapped in a chimney and a cat from a tree - which the RSPCA said should have been left for at least 24 hours.

Klare Kennett, an RSPCA spokeswoman, added: “We’d always advise people to call us in the first instance and if we need help we will call the fire brigade.

“If you see a cat up a tree, we’d advise you leave it for 24 hours before calling the RSPCA as they usually manage to get themselves down.

"After all, when was the last time you saw a cat’s skeleton up a tree?”

That advice came after no fewer than 12 animals – including eight cats – were rescued by Merton’s fire crews 2011, including a pigeon trapped in a wardrobe because a Wimbledon resident was too scared of it to let it free.

Merton fire brigade’s borough commander, Darren Munro, warned his teams could be distracted from real emergencies after animal rescues went up by almost 62 per cent in the last six years.

Mr Munro said: “We want to dispel the old stereotype about firefighters rescuing cats from trees - our crews are highly trained emergency service personnel.

“If there is a cat up a tree, or an animal stuck anywhere, the first port of call should always be the RSPCA, not the emergency services.”

London Fire Brigade’s ‘I’m An Animal, Get Me Out Of Here’ campaign launched today and includes a series of eye-catching posters which will be sent to veterinary organisations and animal rescue charities.

The LFB said, from today, it will also publicise every single animal rescue via its Twitter Feed.

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