This hero policeman climbed into a filthy basement to rescue a newborn kitten that was stuck under a woman's home in Thailand.

Police Lieutenant Niti Sriladlao was called to homeowner Tongchid's house in Chai Nat province after she heard the kitten mewling incessantly for more than an hour beneath the floorboards.

The officers searched around the residence and traced the source of the sound to a tiny compartment hidden behind a locker on August 29.

Holding a flashlight in his mouth, Niti squeezed himself through the narrow hole about 50 centimetres wide and combed the dirty space for the helpless creature. Within minutes, he ascended, cradling the fragile animal in his hands.

Its fur was drenched and it was apparently still too young to walk on all four legs. It made a wet streak as it dragged itself across the floor.

Tongchid then wrapped the baby cat in cloth and placed it inside a box. A few minutes later, its mum arrived and whisked the kitten away by the neck - this time carrying it onto Tongchid's roof.

She said: ‘I think the cat is from the wild. Mother cats have a habit of hiding their kittens so I think this one might have done the same. I heard the cat's cries for more than an hour so I called for help.'

Niti, the cop who saved the kitten, added: 'Many people have reported similar incidents to us. If I can help, I alway will do in order to give the residents peace of mind.'