Tawny owl freed from fishing line in Warwick

The tawny owl was left dangling above the River Leam in Warwick

Firefighters rescued a tawny owl which had been caught up in fishing line left close to a river.

The owl was found hanging by its wing about 8ft (2.4m) above the River Leam near Emscote Road, Warwick.

The RSPCA called Warwickshire Fire and Rescue which freed the bird using an inflatable walkway and a hook devised at the scene.

The bird has since been released back into the wild after spending time with a specialist wild bird carer.

"The fear and suffering this beautiful bird endured could have been so easily avoided if the fishing line had been safely disposed of," an RSPCA spokesman said.