Firefighters rescue Harris hawk from TV aerial

Firefighters used gauntlets for protection, a net, and an aerial appliance to bring the bird down safely

A bird of prey has been rescued by firefighters after becoming entangled in a television aerial.

An animal rescue team from Wellingborough fire station, Northamptonshire, was called to help release a trapped Harris hawk after its lead rope became snarled in the rooftop fixture.

The team, supported by a crew from Moulton fire station, used gauntlets for protection, a net and an aerial appliance to bring the hawk down safely.

A spokesperson from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said the hawk had been handed over to the care of the charity Animals In Need Northamptonshire.

According to BBC Wildlife magazine, Harris hawks are native to central and South America and are popular in the UK for use in falconry.

A spokesperson for Animals In Need Northamptonshire called the Wellingborough firefighting team "everyday heroes"