FIREFIGHTERS stepped in to save celebrity Southampton ferret Frankie from a potentially fatal gas leak in his own home.

It was a close squeak for Frankie, who is famed for his fondness for making off with mobile phones and hiding them.

His adorable antics have also twice earned him a slot on comedy clip show You've Been Framed.

But Frankie's inquisitive nature put him at risk when dangerous refrigerant started leaking out of the freezer near his favourite hang-out in the utility room.

Alerted by a nasty smell, ferret fancying owner Patricia Othens, 53, called firefighters to clean up the dangerous substance before Frankie could come to any harm.

And St Mary's firefighter Paul Goddard was just the man - he owns two ferrets himself.

Retired Patricia said the freezer had sprung a leak and the noxious substance was dripping on to the floor and evaporating into a toxic gas inside her Kenilworth Road home.

It took firefighters in breathing apparatus to clear the house.

Patricia said: "The smell made me feel a bit sick and Frankie could have died from the fumes or he could have licked up the water and it could have killed him.

"It was really quite dangerous. The firefighters were quite concerned; especially the man who had ferrets himself.

"Frankie was looking a bit dozy and a bit faint but he recovered quickly.

"It's funny - Frankie the ferret feels faint from freezer fumes and is freed by firefighters," she quipped.

Firefighter Paul took a look at Frankie to make sure he was OK.

"I've got two ferrets, Jack and Saffron, so I made sure he was fine and he wasn't hurt at all.

"It would have been nasty if he had drunk any of it."

The fire brigade used high-pressure fans to clear the house and removed the leaking freezer, which has now been replaced.