A FOX had to be rescued after finding itself in a tight spot.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) attended the scene at Eastbourne College, where the creature had become trapped behind some hoarding from recent construction work.

Security officers unscrewed the hoarding to allow rescuers Trevor Weeks and Ellie Langridge access to the fox, which had its head stuck in a plastic drain surround.

Trevor used a thick blanket to wrap up the fox and lift him carefully into a cage, before returning to the WRAS veterinary hospital at Whitesmith near Hailsham.

Rescue staff were then able to cut into the plastic to make the hole big enough for the fox to break free.

Lead Casualty Manager Katie Nunn Nash said: “The fox was clearly pleased to be free from his black plastic cone.

“We have decided to keep him in for a few days for observation, especially as he has been coughing, which could be as a result of swelling from the plastic.”

East Sussex WRAS was established as a voluntary group in 1996 to provide a frontline rescue service for wildlife casualties. Every year, the charity receives between 3,000 and 4,000 calls.

The veterinary hospital has been taking casualties throughout the coronavirus crisis but the charity is working with a reduced crew and is appealing for donations, which can be made at wildlifeambulance.org.