Relief as injured duck is caught

A duck which sparked concern after it was seen with a red plastic bottle ring round his neck for weeks has been caught and treated by experts.

Members of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (Wras) had been trying to catch the duck in Eastbourne for more than a fortnight.

He was caught at Hampden Park by some local residents and taken home.

The duck was taken to specialist wildlife carers in Crowborough where he was treated for tongue and neck wounds.

Brain damage

Trevor Weeks of Wras said he, the RSPCA, local residents and park visitors had all been trying to catch the duck over the two weeks.

He was out looking for the bird when he was called to say it had been caught.

Mr Weeks said: "Luckily we were able to treat the duck rather than it just being released back into the water, which could have proved fatal."

He said the ligature wound to the duck's neck could have caused brain damage if toxins had built up beneath the skin.