Sticky bat gently rescued from gluey fly trap in Leicestershire home

Rescuers hope he will be released back into the wild when fully recovered

An unlucky bat became unstuck when it flew into a Leicestershire home - and into a glue-covered fly trap.

The fragile male brown long-eared bat got into the house, in the Lutterworth area, through an open window on Saturday.

The surprised householder was able to gently release the sticky creature before taking it to the Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital.

The bat is now recovering after an oily rubdown and a bath, the charity said.

Amy Ducker, from the Kibworth Beauchamp-based animal hospital, said: "It was quite an unfortunate event for the bat.

"The finder managed to remove the bat gently from the sticky trap and then brought it into our care."

The bat was struggling to move its glue-covered wings

She added: "When the bat arrived, he was still quite sticky and covered in glue.

"His ears were all folded in on themselves.

"We got to work by delicately using oil to break down the glue that was on his body and wings - then he had a bath afterwards to get the oil off.

"The trap wasn't intended to catch any bats but unfortunately sticky traps are indiscriminate."

Ms Ducker said the bat had been stressed and struggling to move because of the glue, but had now been now handed over to the Leicestershire Rutland Bat Group.

It is hoped he will be released back into the wild when fully recovered.