'Exhausted' fox rescued from uncovered manhole

The fox was "very weak" after being trapped in the hole overnight

A fox that fell down an uncovered manhole on a building site has been rescued by the RSPCA.

The animal charity said the fox was discovered by a worker at the site on Grosvenor Road in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

It said the incident highlighted the danger "uncovered traps can pose to wildlife".

RSPCA inspector Nicole Pendrell-Smith said the fox was "very weak" and she "had to get him out fast".

A worker on the building site in St Albans discovered the fox stuck down the manhole

"His head was drooping towards water, which had collected at the bottom of the hole. He had probably been stuck down this hole all night," she said.

"Before I arrived, the worried workers had put down some strapping in the hope the animal would be able to haul himself out, but unfortunately that didn't work."

Ms Pendrell-Smith managed to pull the fox out with "graspers" and put him in a carrier.

The animal was taken to South Essex Wildlife Hospital to be cared for and checked for hypothermia.

"Happily, following a thorough check up, the hospital was able to rehabilitate the fox and he was soon released back into the wild," she said.

"We often get called to cases of wildlife stuck in drains and holes and this incident does highlight the importance of checking workplaces or gardens for any potential uncovered traps," she added.