Firefighters had to save a fat rat stuck in a manhole cover.

Bizarre on Female First

Bizarre on Female First

The rotund animal had nowhere to go after she tried to squeeze out of the small space in Hochdorf-Assenheim in Germany.

Firefighters responded to help the female rodent, with animal rescuer Michael Sehr telling local media: ''[The rat] had a lot of winter flab and was stuck fast at her hip - there was no going forward or back.''

He added that although rats are ''hated by many'' people, the animals ''deserve respect''.

Andreas Steinbach - from the Berufstierrettung Rhein Neckar animal rescue group - added that she ''''looked back as if to say 'thanks, and yes, I need to go on a diet!' ''