RSPCA officers are bracing themselves for the busiest period of the year as calls to the charity typically peak in the summer months.

The animal welfare charity received more than 204,9741 calls about wildlife in 2018 across England and Wales last year; with 11,952 of those from the North-East and North Yorkshire regions.

Nearly half of all the calls were received in the peak summer months of May to July - the height of the breeding season for many wild animals.

The top five species the calls related to were pigeons, red foxes, gulls, hedgehogs and deer.

The RSPCA’s scientific officer Evie Button said: “May, June and July are our busiest months for wildlife, so our officers, centre staff and volunteers are flat out at this time of year.

“Caring for young animals at our wildlife centres can be a round-the-clock job. Some of the most vulnerable animals need to be hand-fed every few hours, even through the night.

“From newborn fox cubs which have lost their mother, to injured blackbirds or tiny orphaned ‘hoglets’, the RSPCA is very busy caring for and rehabilitating animals so they can hopefully be re-introduced to the wild.”

RSPCA officers collected 59,428 wild animals in 2018 and calls included rare and unusual animals including a Natterer’s bat, a natterjack toad and a hen harrier.