A baby fox has been rescued after football netting was found tightly wrapped around its neck.

It is believed the animal became tangled overnight in a residential garden in Kemsley.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Kirsten Ormerod rushed to the fox’s aid on Monday.

She said: “It’s always a really sad situation when animals get tangled in netting. This poor cub had the netting tight around his neck and was really cold and wet.

“I managed to free him and took him to one of our wildlife centres, where he is now getting treatment.

"He was so lucky as we see so many incidents like this where the animal is fatally injured while trying to get free.”

When the charity receives a call from a member of the public about a trapped animal tangled in netting, it is classed as an emergency and the nearest officer is tasked to go and rescue.

If they can free the animal themselves they will carefully cut away the netting before checking them over.

Kirsten added: “It doesn’t take too long with them thrashing about trying to escape before they become seriously trapped and they’re then unable to free themselves.

“If they go unnoticed even for a short time, they can really suffer.

"The tight net can cut off the blood supply to their limbs, damage bones where they have tried to frantically escape, or worst of all, they could be strangled to death.

"There is one simple way to prevent this from happening – please remove sports nets after use and store them safely away.

"It only takes a few minutes and yet it could save an animal from suffering.”

Even if the creature doesn’t look injured they will still need treatment at a wildlife centre because of the invisible damage netting can cause.

In some instances, the animal is so severely tangled that they have to be sedated and taken to a centre for all of the netting to be cut away.

If you see an animal tangled, do not try to free them yourself – call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.