Firefighters help rescue young fox stuck in garden

The fox spent a month in rehabilitation after getting injured while trapped

A fire service helped rescue a juvenile fox that got stuck between a garden shed and a fence.

The RSPCA was called to a property in Luton on 1 July to help the trapped animal.

Initially, animal rescue officer Mark Richardson tried to remove the fox by covering him in sunflower oil while easing him out of the gap, but the tightness of the space meant the risk of injuring the animal was too high.

He sought help from Stopsley Community Fire Station, which used hydraulic tools to open the space, allowing the officer to grab the fox. South Essex Wildlife Hospital then treated the animal's injuries to the groin area.

Firefighters helped rescue the trapped fox

The hospital released him back into the wild after a month of rehabilitation.

Mr Richardson said: "It's the best part of the job seeing an animal you have helped to rescue be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

"After a month of care and a four-hour round trip, the fox didn't wait around to say thank you, as he quickly disappeared into the bushes.

"This was a great, happy ending to a team effort rescue."