Last Saturday, while walking on the canal bank at Southwick, I saw a poor cormorant really badly oiled up.

It was trying desperately to clean itself and dry its wings but obviously could not fly and was swimming about, becoming weaker and weaker.

Eventually, it managed to drag itself on to a mooring rope.

I phoned the RSPCA, who promised to try to send someone to try to catch the bird.

In other seaside towns, I have seen a number to call for seabirds in distress and local volunteers will try to help.

Is there such a service in the Brighton and Hove area?

If there is, it would be helpful to have the number and perhaps it could be included in The Argus list, which is where I found the RSPCA number.

-Mrs Jean Madgwick, Northfleet, Kent