A fox cub which was trapped in a wall in a hotel is thought to have fallen from an air shaft in the roof.

The young creature was found after staff at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in King’s Road, Brighton, heard scratching from behind a large pillar in one of the conference rooms.

Staff, including Leonidas who works at the hotel, cut away the plasterboard and found the cub inside at 6am on March 19.

The Argus: It is thought the cub fell from an air shaft in the roofIt is thought the cub fell from an air shaft in the roof (Image: Pauline Thomas)

Pauline Thomas, who helps at rescue group Brighton and Hove Wildlife Advice Rescue Service (WARS), was called to collect the cub.

  • Brighton WARS operates from donations. You can donate to their fundraiser here. 

She told The Argus: “Leonidas who works at the Metropole was the one who got in touch via our Facebook group.

“I was awake first so picked up the request and gave him a call.

“When I headed down there I was amazed to see how high the little one had fallen.

“The conference room was right down in the basement. It’s a miracle he was found, but luckily they heard scratching and cut away the plasterboard to find him there.

“It wasn’t an option to leave the cub at the hotel, and in the absence of his mum we had no choice but to take him to the wildlife rescue ambulance service (WRAS).

“It is most likely that this little cub will be released to a safe site, with other cubs once he’s old enough.”

The Argus: The Metropole in King's Road, BrightonThe Metropole in King's Road, Brighton (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

Pauline praised Leonidas for his efforts in helping rescue the cub.

“Leonidas was amazing,” Pauline said. He wasn’t even on shift at night when they found the cub but came in to help, so he was a real hero.”

The Argus: The fox cub has been taken to the wildlife rescue ambulanceThe fox cub has been taken to the wildlife rescue ambulance (Image: Pauline Thomas)

The rescuers still do not know how the fox cub came to be on the roof.

Pauline said: “After a brief check over at Coastways in Kemp Town I took him up to WRAS.

“He is a very feisty, rather bitey, lively and well-fed baby so fingers crossed he will be fine. He is in the best hands.

“Thank you so much to the staff at the hotel for saving this baby. We cannot do this work without donations."