Fire crews rescue bat caught in fishing line

A member of the public saw the bat in a tree in the village of Great Bowden

Firefighters received an unusual call to help rescue a bat which was tangled up in a tree by a canal in Leicestershire.

A crew was called in to help by Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital after a member of the public saw the bat in a tree along the Grand Union Canal in the village of Great Bowden.

After being rescued on Friday, vets discovered a fishing line and hook in the bat's wing. Once removed, medics administered rehydration fluids.

The bat is now in the care of Leicester and Rutland Bat Group, where he is rehabilitating before he can be released back into the wild.

A fishing line and hook had to be removed from the bat's wing