FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue a pigeon trapped in netting.

A RSPCA inspector helped recover the bird which had been trapped in netting at a converted church on Victoria Road in Darlington, which now houses Bathroom World Darlington.

Inspector Clare Wilson was called out by a member of the public who had spotted the pigeon hanging upside down in netting two storeys high on the roof of the building.

"It was too high for me to rescue on my own so I called out County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to help," said Ms Wilson.

"They sent out their hydraulic platform and took me up there to help the pigeon.

"The bird had the netting wrapped tightly round its right leg so I just cut the netting around it and secured it in a towel to bring it to safety.

"I also secured the netting afterwards as best as I could in order to try and stop another pigeon coming to harm in future."

After freeing the bird, Ms Wilson took it to the RSPCA Darlington office where she cut away the remaining netting on its leg and was relieved to find the leg uninjured.

"It could be released straight away, so I took it to a local nature reserve and it flew away happily," said Ms Wilson.

"I would urge everyone with netting on their buildings to check it regularly for trapped wildlife and repair any damage to prevent wild birds from getting trapped in this way.

"We are getting regular calls for birds in similar predicaments at the moment.

"I would also like to thank the fire brigade for their swift assistance."

This is not the first time that pigeons have been reportedly trapped in nets in Darlington,

The Northern Echo was contacted last week by a concerned member of the public who has spotted several dead pigeons either trapped between netting placed under the railway bridge on Yarm road in Darlington, or dead on the pavement below the bridge.

The woman said: "I looked up at the bridge and I was shocked and mortified.

"I saw multiple carcasses of dead pigeons that had been trapped and died a cruel death under the bridge, where netting had been put in place to stop them from gathering there.

"The poor pigeon must have found an opening and climb into the netting, could not find it's way out and met a slow and terrible death."

The woman said she had contacted both the RSPCA and Network Rail, who are responsible for the bridge, about the situation and sent photos to them for evidence.

Both companies said that they would investigate the matter.

"I hope something can be done to repair the breaches so no further loss of life of these poor birds will happen again," she said.

"I saw 3 dead birds in the netting that had died.

"All life is precious and all living things have sense, you just have to look at the way they protect and look after their young with their life."