Barn owl rescued from a TV tangle in Stoke-on-Trent

Sorry to broadcast it, but this is not what is meant by getting on the telly

Take a look at this little twit - a barn owl "hoo" turned heads when he misunderstood what was meant by channel surfing.

The bird was spotted tangled in a TV aerial by residents in Stoke-on-Trent who alerted the RSPCA.

And despite the interference, there was still a good reception from the animal welfare charity.

Staff mounted a rescue with firefighters and signalled "no lasting injuries".

According to the RSPCA, it was the bird's jesses - thin straps around its legs - that tethered it to the aerial which was on top of a house.

The owl had been missing from a nearby street for three days

RSPCA inspector Natalie Perehovsky was called by worried residents to the home on Beverley Drive in Bentilee on Wednesday morning.

A tag revealed the owl had an owner a few streets away who confirmed it had been missing for three days.

"His worried owner was very relieved to be reunited with him," Ms Perehovsky said.

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She scaled the house with the support of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, freeing the owl and then placing it in a box so it could be checked over by a vet.

A check-up at the vet revealed the owl was not seriously hurt

"He was just a little bit sore and weak from his unpleasant ordeal," Ms Perehovsky said

"I'm really pleased this beautiful bird appears to have suffered no lasting injuries as a result of his escapade."