Firefighters had to part-close a shopping street in Haywards Heath to save a trapped pigeon.

The crew was called to South Road on Saturday afternoon after reports of a bird in distress.

The RSPCA became worried about the bird's welfare after it became trapped in netting round a parapet designed to stop pigeons resting there.

The firefighters freed the pigeon, which was not injured.

The incident was later recorded in Haywards Heath fire station's log book as: "Petrified pigeon perched precariously on parapet persuaded by personnel pitching ladder".

A spokesman for the fire station said: "We had to close off the pavement to Saturday afternoon shoppers and put up a ladder to rescue the pigeon.

"It is a busy road at the best of times but even worse on a Saturday."