A clever cat has been hailed a hero after he prevented his owners' home from burning down - by opening a window.
Five-year-old Pepper has learned to open windows and lets himself out every night by hopping on to a kitchen worktop and using his paws to turn the latch.
So when a fire broke while his owners were Christmas shopping, the quick-thinking puss leapt into action and opened the window to allow the acrid smoke to escape.
'Pepper is still a bit spooked by the ordeal but is still managing to eat plenty of food.'
Sharon said: 'We put something in the microwave for ten minutes and then popped out to do our Christmas shopping in the local town.
'I discovered on the way that I had left my purse at home but decided not to turn around.
'It was my sister-in-law who lives next door that rang us about two hours into our trip and said you had better get home as there is quite a lot of smoke coming out of your house and the fire brigade are here.
'We are thankful our neighbours did not just dismiss the smoke as a bonfire.'
