A bat caught in a fishing wire and hanging from a tree about 12ft above the water was rescued when a Good Samaritan offered up their boat as part of efforts to free the animal.

The creature was swinging from a branch off The Mallows, near the River Medway in Maidstone, with a hook stuck in its mouth and struggling to free itself.

Watch: The bat was found caught on a fishing line and hanging from a tree

The RSPCA was called on Saturday, August 14, and with the help of a member of the public who offered their boat, one of the charity's inspector was able to cut the pipistrelle bat free and take it to a nearby vet.

Inspector Kirsten Ormerod, who attended the incident, said: “He must have been very stressed and in a lot of pain. I took him to the vets who sedated the bat and safely removed the hook from his mouth.

"He was then given fluids and anti-inflammatories before being taken to a wildlife hospital for further care. He will undergo rehabilitation before he can be released back into the wild.”

The charity says the incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of fishing litter.

A spokesman said: "Most anglers are very responsible but it only takes one careless person to endanger the life of an animal.

"We urge all anglers to follow the Angling Trust’s Take 5 campaign and make use of the recycling scheme to dispose of waste tackle and line."

Kirsten added: “We know the majority of anglers do pick up their litter but sadly a small proportion do not and this litter can cause severe injuries or can even be fatal to wildlife.”

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

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone