A trapped fox was saved by the RSPCA this week after getting tangled up in a football net at a High Wycombe school, with people now being urged to safely put netting away to protect wildlife.

The young female fox was spotted by a member of the public after getting stuck in football netting on the grounds of a school in Rose Avenue on Monday.

RSPCA officers were quick to arrive at the scene to rescue the frightened animal before it injured itself while attempting to get free from the netting.

Animal collection officer Dennis Lovell said: “We do not know how long the fox had been there for but thankfully this little one was lucky, as the cord was quite thick and had not cut into her skin.

“I was able to cut her free, check her over and release her as she was not injured.

“However, this is not always the case as quite often we are called to free wildlife who have got tangled up in netting and who have been left injured by the incident, often with the netting cutting into them as they struggle to get themselves free.”

The RSPCA is now urging people to always remove football netting, with animals like badgers, deer and hedgehogs also having to be freed in similar situations recently.

Mr Lovell said: “Please help us to help keep wildlife safe by putting away your sports nets when you have finished playing.

“It only takes a few minutes and it could save an animal from suffering.”

Other forms of garden netting, like pond or fruit netting, can be a real hazard to wild animals like hedgehogs as well and the RSPCA recommends replacing these with solid metal mesh.

For more information about the charity, visit www.rspca.org.uk