An animal charity is urging people to take care during the bonfire season and help keep hedgehogs and other wildlife safe.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) takes in more than 400 hedgehogs annually.

At this time of year the creatures are starting to look for somewhere to hibernate over the winter and bonfires can make perfect places for hedgehogs to hide and sleep.

WRAS founder Trevor Weeks said: “Hedgehog numbers are on the decline and we need to help them out as much as possible and this is a simple and easy way to do so.

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“Bonfires and fireworks can be great fun but can also be very upsettingly spoilt when wildlife casualties crawl out burnt or on fire.

“Not all wildlife gets out alive, and many are thought to die unseen. If people follow our top 10 tips, it will reduce the risk to wildlife and help keep bonfires safe.”

Tips include re-setting the entire bonfire pile before being lit where possible, using broom handles to lift the bonfire up to check for wildlife sleeping inside before lighting the fire and to use torches to check underneath and listen carefully.

Putting a mesh fence around larger bonfires can also help and lighting them at one side rather than all round will give any creatures inside a chance to escape.

Other advice includes moving bird feeders and food left out on the ground for wildlife away from the bonfire site for at least a week before building a bonfire.