A young roe deer which became wedged in a garden gate has been rescued by the RSPCA.

The operation was carried out with the help of a car jack after a member of the public alerted the animal charity to the problem.

The deer, which was stuck in a gate in Iden Green Road in Cranbrook on January 2, had been lodged for over an hour by the time help arrived.

Photos show how the deer had become wedged at the hips and was unable to get out.

RSPCA inspector Clive Hopwood, who attended the scene, put a blanket over the deer’s head to keep her calm while the rescue took place.

He said: “I used a car jack to bend the bars. With a little bit of wiggling, I was able to get the hips through.

“I think the deer was quite surprised at being suddenly free as she lay there for a minute before getting up and dashing off down the garden into the fields beyond.”

The caller told Inspector Hopwood that deer had been spotted in the garden before as they often got through a broken fence.

However, the caller said he had “never seen one stuck in the gate like this”.

Anyone who is concerned for the welfare of an animal or who sees an animal in distress should visit the RSPCA website.