This gannet is fighting for its life after suffering in the storms which battered the Sussex coast.

The bird, which is quite rare in the county, was found in a field near the seafront at Seaford and collected by Trevor Weeks, rescue co-ordinator for the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue organisation.

It was taken to VetCall, an emergency veterinary service in Kemp Town, Brighton, where it was found to be covered in oil.

Its plumage was cleaned and it was given medication to try to stop the oil rotting its vital organs.

It will recover at the RSPCA oiled bird centre near Hastings.

Mr Weeks believes the bird would have struggled to fly with the oil on its wings, especially in the strong winds.

The gannet is one of more than 60 oil-logged birds found along the coast between Shoreham and Bexhill in the past two weeks.

A further 20 have been found dead.

Mr Weeks said the number of oiled birds picked up was at its highest level for six or seven years.