WHAT a batty creature! A Pipistrelle bat got itself into a spot of bother at a York primary school when it managed to get stuck inside a light fitting.

But the animal was rescued from its prison after being spotted by a pupil during a maths lesson at Park Grove Primary School.

Head teacher Andrew Calverley said the bat was thought to have been hibernating in the roof above, when it woke up and crawled into the light through the hole in the roof - and was then trapped.

After the pupil saw the creature, staff at the school switched off the light and a local animal expert was called in.

The bat is expected to be released near the school so it can try to find its colony.

Mr Calverley said: "The kids were terrified of it until they actually saw it, then they couldn't get over how lovely it was."

Updated: 11:14 Thursday, January 19, 2006