A FIRE crew was called to make an unusual rescue - when a FOX was spotted dangling upside-down by its tail from a metal fence.

The poor creature was spotted by a member of the public on Saturday (Jan 11), who called a local wildlife rescue centre for help.

But when the rescue centre quickly realised that cutting tools would be needed, they called the fire station - who rushed to the scene and cut the trapped vixen free from the fence.

The rescue took place in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and the female fox has since been transported to Secret World Wildlife Rescue, based ten miles away in Highbridge.

Reception supervisor at Secret World, Marlies Hebdon, said: "The person who rang in confirmed it would probably need some cutting tools, which we don't have.

"So I thought about ringing the fire station who were ever so useful, and got there just before Cindy."

Cindy is a long term volunteer at the centre and got there just as the crew were cutting the trapped fox free from the fence.

The Weston-super-Mare Fire Station attended the scene, on North Street in Weston-super-Mare, in an alleyway just behind Top Flight Gym.

The alley is behind residential buildings and shops, and it's reported that neighbouring residents heard foxes making "a lot of noise" in the early hours of the morning.

The fox's tail was injured, with the bone visible, and the animal was taken to Quantock Veterinary Hospital in Bridgwater.

Marlies said that the fox lost the white bit at the end of its tail but is now recovering at the rescue centre.

The fox is a female, said to be in season. The vixen will stay at the centre and will receive a check up from the vet during the week.

Marlies said at this stage, it is not clear when the fox will be released back in to the wild.

She said: "She could be with us for a couple of weeks but if she's feeling okay and just needs antibiotics for a few days then it could be sooner.

"We are quite hopeful because it's looking quite good at the moment."

It is not known how the fox ended up in her precarious predicament but Marlies said it is currently mating season for foxes.

She said: "We have had a few stuck, probably about five a year, it's not a lot.

"But this time of year, the winter, were getting the bigger animals in rather than the baby ones that don't come until later.

"It's animals like badgers, foxes and swans getting stuck," she added.