Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

An astonished driver who took her squeaky car to a garage for repairs found a family of kittens nesting under the bodywork.

The woman said she had left her car unattended for almost a week because of a COVID-19 lockdown in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China.

When she started to use the car again, she thought the squeaking sound could have might something to do with the inactivity.

So she took it to a mechanic who was shocked to see a tiny paw emerging from a small hole where the water drains from the air conditioning unit.

After removing a panel, a newborn kitten could be seen and the panel was replaced because it almost dropped onto the floor.

Heartwarming video footage of the rescue shows the mechanic gently removing five kittens from the panel behind the bumper.

The family was instantly adopted by the driver – who found no sign of the kittens’ mum – and new homes have already been found for two.

She said: “I don’t have any experience with cats, and am hoping a kind neighbour will lend a helping hand and take them in.”