FIREFIGHTERS came to the rescue after a hedgehog got stuck in a drain following a possible act of cruelty.

Staff at the job centre in Houghton-le-Spring called the RSPCA after finding the frightened animal.

But when RSPCA officer Rowena Proctor was unable to get it out, a crew from Tyne and Wear Fire Service was called to the rescue.

Watch manager Dave Curtis said: “When the crew arrived they found the creature had well and truly wedged itself in.

“Eventually we were able to get two hands around him and with a lot of gentle rolling, we were able to free our captive and pass it over to the RSPCA.”

Ms Proctor said: “This was a wicked thing to do if this was deliberate, the poor hedgehog could have been seriously injured or even killed. It’s not yet clear whether this was a deliberate act of cruelty or whether the hedgehog had got himself stuck inside the drain but it would seem to me he had been forced inside in some sort of sick joke.”