Staff from electricity company Western Power Distribution put their energy to good use yesterday afternoon when they rescued a damsel in distress who had got her car stuck down a hole.

Her name may be just one letter away from that of Superman's girlfriend, but for Louise Lane her superheroes wore fluorescent jackets and hard hats rather than a flying cape.

Nevertheless, they proved just the men to get her out of a spot of bother, when the Ford Mondeo she was driving became stuck in a 4ft ditch as she was parking it at the top of Penhellaz Hill, off Cross Street - and to make matters worse, it was her boss' car.

Louise, from Coinagehall Street, now believes that something should be done to stop other drivers from making the same mistake. She has already heard from one other woman who has done exactly the same thing, just a couple of weeks ago.

Louise, an advertising rep for the Packet, said: "There is nothing there to say that the drain is there. There are no warning signs or anything. I was shocked it was there, as it was completely unexpected because I couldn't see it at all. I think it should be sectioned off or filled, as it doesn't even seem to be in use."

She was forced to cancel her appointment at the nearby Thurstan Hoskin solicitors firm in Cross Street, as she waited for her bosses to come from Falmouth with a tow-rope.

However, before they could reach her, Good Samaritans in the form of the two Western Power men came to her aid with the winch from the back of their van. She was also kept company by two Cornwall county council workers.

"Thank you very, very much for being so kind! I would have had to be towed out, as I never would have been able to reverse of because the back was in the air," said Louise.