A seagull impaled itself on a television aerial and sparked a Christmas rescue operation.

A team of six firefighters, supported by RSPCA animal welfare officers, spent more than half an hour on Christmas Day releasing the stricken bird.

It had landed on the aerial at an awkward angle, impaling its wing on top of a house in Alinora Crescent in Goring, Worthing.

Firefighters reached the bird from an elevating platform and braved vicious pecking to untangle its wing.

Leading Firefighter Rob Munday, of Worthing fire station, said: "Its wing was very badly injured. It was in some distress.

"It was a humanitarian service. Getting up that high can be quite hazardous, especially as seagulls can give you quite a peck."

The gull was handed to RSPCA staff, who took it away for treatment.

Distressed dog owners called for help after their pet got stuck on a sandbank.

The couple had been walking on West Beach, Littlehampton, when the dog became stranded.

Water swept in around the pet after it ran on to the sand shortly after 12.10pm yesterday.

Littlehampton inshore lifeboat was launched and the rescue team pulled the dog to safety.

The dog was later reunited with its owners.