A vixen was reunited with her cubs after they fell into a small gap between two walls.

The RSPCA was called to a workshop in Biggin Hill, near Bromley, after a distressed fox was seen trying to reach her six offspring.

The fox had given birth to the cubs in a patch of dirt underneath a ply board worktop, that spanned the length of the workshop.

Five of the cubs then sadly fell between the makeshift ply wall and an old brick wall under the worktop into a tiny gap.

Fortunately the owner realised that something might be wrong and called the RSPCA.

Animal rescue officer Claire Thomas attended and was able to rescue five of the cubs by putting her arm down the tight gap.

A sixth cub was found wedged in a corner which the vixen would also not be able to get to.

The caller's partner was a builder and was able to help Claire by using his power tools to unscrew the top to give her enough room to rescue the cubs.

Claire said: "The mother fox had been waiting prior to my arrival on next door's roof area inline with the workshop roof.

"It was heartbreaking as she could hear her cubs but not reach them anymore.

"I managed to retrieve all six, and made them a temporary home with bedding using a basket I had in my van, I covered it in towels and tarpaulin in case it rained.

"I could not place them back on the earth under the worktop, due to the risk of them falling back down the gap again."

Claire placed the basket at the top of the garden by an access hole that the vixen regularly uses to gain access to the garden.

The holes under the workshop were blocked up by the caller's husband to prevent the fox from putting the cubs back in, as they would have fallen down the gap again.

"Amazingly, the caller phoned me not even an hour after I had left as mum was already coming back and forth to retrieve her cubs." said Claire.

"I was so pleased and when I went to check the following day all the cubs had been taken from the basket. I'm so happy mum got her cubs back - and on Mother's Day too!"

Each year many young foxes are needlessly taken into wildlife rehabilitation centres by people who mean well and want to help.

"I'm so happy mum got her cubs back - and on Mother's Day too!"

Often, the parents are nearby, so the RSPCA always recommends that, if you find fox cubs, to monitor the situation from a distance to see if mum is still around.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care visit it's website or call the donation line on 0300 123 8181.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Bexley and Bromley