TARTAN Army fan Martin Richie has become a hero in Romania - for saving a cat from a tree.

Gallant Martin, 25, offered to help when he saw two girls trying to put up a ladder to get the pet, which had been trapped for four days, down.

But the slater, who was wearing his kilt during the rescue in Bucharest, was stunned when he came down to find a TV crew waiting to interview him.

And he was even more amazed to find his bravery - and unusual accent - had captured the imagination of the Romanians so much he was the lead item on the national news.

Martin, of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, was drowning his sorrows in Romania after Scotland's dismal performance in neighbouring Moldova.

He said yesterday: 'I ended up tempting the cat out of the tree with a slice of ham.

'It was tough because it didn't want to come down for some reason. But never in a million years did I think I would end up onTV. It was a very unexpected surprise.'

Martin, who speaks with a strong north-east accent, added: 'I don't think the reporter could understand a word I was saying.

'She just kind of nodded and smiled as I spoke. But she was so attractive, I pushed my luck and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.'

Martin added: 'It's all been a great laugh. But I would have traded it all in for a decent result against Moldova.'