FIRE crews made a swift rescue at weekend.

They were called out when a wildlife team was unable to save a swift trapped in the eaves of a house in Climping Street, Climping on Saturday.

The high eaves of the building meant West Sussex Wildlife Protection’s ladder would not reach and the group enlisted the help of the fire brigade.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service retrieved the exhausted bird in under an hour.

It was taken to Alphapet Veterinary Clinic, West Meads, for a check up and later released.

Simon Wild, a spokesman for of West Sussex Wildlife Protection, said: “This swift had only arrived on Friday having flown from equatorial or southern Africa.

“They have one of the longest migrations of any bird and so it was wonderful to see it rescued.”

“I know East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were recently consulting the public as to whether to continue with bird rescues, but I am sure the public here will be fully supportive of our West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service carrying out difficult bird rescues.”