A BABY seagull was rescued after becoming stuck in a fishing line.

A member of the public spotted the young bird after it was caught at the edge of the main island in the middle of Hailsham Common Pond on October 7.

Rescuers from the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service freed the bird, using boats to paddle across to the island.

They worked together to safely reach the gull and cut it free from the fishing line which had began wrapped around its body, stopping it from flying away.

Fishing is not allowed at the site and the line may have ended up in the area after being carried in by another bird.

With the fishing line wrapped around it, the gull was unable to move out of the water or waddle away from the rescuers as the line was also attached to mesh around the edge of the island.

This meshing is often used around ponds to protect new plants when landscaping. However, it can frequently leave holes that wildlife can get caught in, and this can lead to entanglements and injuries.

The Argus: A seagull was rescued by the East Sussex Rescue and Ambulance ServiceA seagull was rescued by the East Sussex Rescue and Ambulance Service

After cutting the bird free, two of the members from the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service stayed to remove the rest of the fishing line.

The gull was taken back across the pond in one of the boats before being transported to the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service casualty centre.

The care team removed the rest of the line at the centre, which was wrapped around its wings, body and legs.

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