Fox cub stuck in jam jar 'could have starved to death'

The RSPCA said it was unlikely the fox would have been able to free himself from the jar

A young fox was saved from a sticky situation after its head became wedged in a jam jar.

The RSPCA said the cub, which was found cowering underneath a car in Rushden, Northamptonshire, could have perished without human intervention.

Once freed, the animal was checked over and released back into the wild.

Animal Collection Officer Sharon Knight said: "This fox had a lucky escape. Discarded jars, tin cans or even elastic bands can be a death trap."

The RSPCA said discarded jars "can be lethal" for wildlife

Ms Knight said it was not known how long the fox had been stuck before she removed the jar last Friday.

"The poor cub had hidden himself under a car," she said. "Sadly the jam jar was firmly wedged over his head and it is unlikely he would have been able to get free without any help.

"It is horrible to think that if the member of the public had not contacted us, then the cub could have starved to death."

The vulpine liberation comes days after news emerged that another fox cub was found "near to death" after getting her head stuck in a peanut butter jar in Wiltshire.