PURRS could be heard all over Burrs after two kittens were rescued from the riverbank in the popular Bury country park.

The two moggies had been abandoned and were tottering dangerously close to the edge of the River Irwell at the bottom of a steep slope.

The area is heavily overgrown which ruled out a land-based rescue.

But the cats were soon singing the praises of Stephen Marley and Dylan Beet who took to the water to save the day!

Walkers heard the moggies desperately crying for help on Monday morning.

They reported their plight to staff at the nearby Burrs Activity Centre which is run by experienced canoeist Stephen (29, pictured right) who enlisted the help of Dylan (18, left) who works at the centre.

They grabbed a canoe and sped down the river to rescue the twelve-week-old kittens.

Stephen said: "A couple of people came into the centre at about lunchtime asking if we had any boats to rescue the cats.

"One cat was stuck in a rat hole at the edge of the water where the river had undercut the bank. There was only a small air gap and all I could see was an eye peeking out. The other cat was on the bank yelling!" The two men grabbed the cats and passed them to Soraya Mody, (29), Burrs Activity Centre office manager and Helen Rooney (18), who is on work experience at the centre, who were waiting on the riverbank.

With the help of passers-by they scrambled the kittens up the 12ft slope and they were out of harm's way within 30 minutes.

Soraya said: "Stephen and Dylan were the heroes of the hour." New homes have already been found for the two lucky kittens.

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