A trapped pigeon that had become caught in some netting on the side of a building in Ashford yesterday had a lucky escape when fire crews were called to the rescue.

An officer from the RSPCA flocked to the bird’s aid after a concerned member of the public discovered the stuck animal in St John’s Lane.

The officer requested the assistance of Ashford firefighters, who arrived at the scene at 3.51pm.

Using a ladder, firefighter Carry Mitchell managed to reach the bird and cut it loose.

It was then handed over to the officer from the animal charity who assessed it for injuries.

Luckily the bird's feathers appeared un-ruffled and it was released into the wild immediately.

RSPCA spokeswoman Katya Mira said: “We were alerted by a member of the public to the fact this bird was trapped so went along and with the help of the fire brigade manage to cut it loose.

“Luckily the bird was not injured so was released back to the wild straight away.

“We don’t know for sure how long it had been stuck, but we don’t think long as he was caught on a public walkway near the high street so was probably spotted quite quickly.

“Not all birds are so lucky though, and this incident does highlight the dangers of netting around buildings and the importance of making sure they are repaired and tended to regularly.”

If you spot a trapped animal you can call the RSPCA national cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.