A fox cub who got his head stuck in the hole of an abandoned car wheel has been rescued by RSPCA officers - with the help of vegetable oil.

A concerned resident spotted the fox on Saturday (June 16) in the car park at the back of a block of flats in Leyton.

When RSPCA Inspector Kate Ford arrived, she found the cub with his head wedged so tightly that he was unable to free himself.

She said: “He was beginning to panic and I knew we needed to work quickly. I tried to ease his head back through the hole, but it just wouldn’t go. He clearly needed some lubrication, so I used some cooking oil which from the residents who called us - and that did the trick! The little fox was then slippery enough for me to gently work his head back through the wheel hole.

“Happily, he was none the worse for his ordeal and soon ran off, hopefully to be reunited with his family.

“This is definitely a case where curiosity caught the cub. I’d like to thank the local Leyton resident for helping to make this a happy ending.”

The RSPCA would not advise members of the public to attempt to free wild animals that have become trapped like this. To report cruelty or an animal in distress please call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999 or visit our website for more guidance at: ww.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals

For advice on what to do if you see a fox cub visit www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/orphanedanimals/foxcubs

To help the RSPCA rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals, visit www.rspca.org.uk/give.