RESCUERS were called to a gull that got himself into a sticky situation at a chocolate factory on Tuesday.

The hapless seabird was covered in syrup which had been left in a container in the yard at the Britannia factory in Polegate.

Concerned staff tried to clean the gull but it was no easy task so they called in experts from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service.

Rescuers took the bird to their specialist hospital where members of the team gave him a bath.

They named him Willy Wonka after the character in Roald Dahl’s classic children’ s book Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The gull did not get into the building and did not affect any food being produced. It is

hoped the bird will make a full recovery.