AN animal rescue charity is urging people to be more aware of the dangers of dropping litter after a hedgehog was found with a four pack plastic beer can ring stuck round its body.

The animal was spotted struggling to walk in Hampden Park, Eastbourne earlier this week.

Chrissie Green, who was walking her dog in the park, called East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) when she came across the tiny creature.

She said: “I was shocked when I first found him, and you could see he was suffering and struggling. I felt so sorry for him and could not leave him to suffer.”

WRAS rescuers Sally Morris and Trevor Weeks arrived at the scene within 25 minutes of getting the call.

Mr Weeks said: “ The hedgehog was young, had flies buzzing round him, and had a plastic beer can ring tightly round its body digging into the skin.

“You could smell the infection so clearly the ring had been stuck there for quite a while.

“We were able to give emergency medication out on site with veterinary authorisation and cut the ring off the hedgehog while trying to keep the flies away.”

The hedgehog was taken to WRAS’s Casualty Centre at Whitesmith, near Lewes, and booked in to see Cliffe Vets in Lewes where the wound was thoroughly cleaned.

Mr Weeks said: “We were pleased the wounds were not too deep which is what was first feared.

“The vets are fairly happy the hedgehog’s wounds will recover as long as the infection hasn’t caused any lasting damage.”

WRAS is now calling on people to pick up litter and has contacted Eastbourne Borough Council to make them aware of a problem of drinking and littering in the park.

Charity rescue co-ordinator Chris Riddington said: “Plastic beer can rings have been causing death and suffering to wildlife for decades now and it is about time an alternative was found.

“The best way to dispose of such rings is to break them up so nothing can get caught in them.”