A poor fox trapped in a wire fence died just minutes before an RSPCA officer could help free him.

The animal had managed to get his head trapped in a small fence hole in Studd Hill, Herne Bay yesterday.

Struggling to get free, the fox strangled himself before he could be freed.

Reports on Facebook suggest the fox was purposely killed with the aid of a homemade snare, but the RSPCA believe that wasn't the case.

A spokesman for the animal welfare charity said: "We were called to rescue a fox that was trapped in a hole in some wire fencing in Studd Hill.

"The fox had his head and neck very tightly caught in a hole in the wire fencing and had been struggling to get free.

"Our officer was able to arrive just minutes after the call but sadly the fox had died from his injuries just before he got there."

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay