RSPCA officers were called to rescue a sheep that had got itself in a sticky situation on Monday.

The animal had got trapped in a muddy dyke in Newenden, near Cranbrook.

RSPCA inspector David Grant received the call from a concerned member of the public who had spotted the sheep.

The mud was up to the animal's shoulders when Mr Grant arrived.

Due to his van being in for a service, the only protective clothing he had was a pair of wellies, and he didn't have any ropes.

He said: "But the sheep needed rescuing so I just got 'stuck in' and went deep into the thick black mud to pull her out.

"When I first saw her she really did look a sorry sight. She was well and truly plugged in this horrible thick gooey black mud.

"She was stuck up over her legs and half her back, and it was like quicksand; the more she moved, the more she got stuck."

After about 15 minutes of pulling, Mr Grant managed to free the ewe. She was not injured and was able to rejoin her flock after a quick check-up.

Mr Grant added: "Had she remained there she would have died, as she was unable to get our of her situation without help."