It's not exactly what you expect to see during an afternoon's shopping, but this is the sight that greeted visitors to Herne Bay on Saturday.

High above Central Parade a seagull got trapped in the weather vane on top of the clock tower.

This picture, sent in by reader Les Willis, show how the bird got its legs caught up in the metal structure.

Mr Willis, of Cornwall Road, Greenhill captured the creature struggling to break free for almost two hours.

He said: "I just felt a bit sorry for the children who would’ve seen it, as at one stage it was a bit distressing."

Crews from Herne Bay fire station were even called to the scene - but the seagull eventually managed to wriggle free unharmed...except for a rather sore right leg!