FIREFIGHTERS rescued a rook stuck in a tree with a damaged wing.

A crew with an aerial platform was sent from Brighton to the scene in Southover Street, Lewes, today at 3pm.

Two firefighters went up in the cage and, with some manoeuvring, managed to drop down on top of the rook and free it from the tree.

The hour-long operation ended with the bird being handed over to East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) for treatment.

WRAS member Chris Riddington took these pictures.

Trevor Weeks from WRAS said: “It’s a bit unusual. It seemed to be caught between two boughs of the tree with its wings sticking out.

“We are not entirely sure how it became trapped there; perhaps two birds were fighting.”

Fellow WRAS worker Keith Reid said: “It became clear, really early on, that our ladders wouldn't reach.”

The very wet, hypothermic and weak crow was taken to the WRAS Casualty Care Centre for treatment.