A fox had to be rescued after getting its head stuck in a wheel.

The animal was spotted by a member of the public outside a storage yard in New Malden, south west London. 

RSPCA animal rescue officer Sam Matthews was sent to the scene to help the injured fox. 

She had to take both the fox and the wheel to a wildlife centre where they managed to free it and give it medical attention.

She said: "The poor fox had almost given up and was resigned to his fate. The tyre had only been put there the night before, but he was quite exhausted.

"I think the young fox was just being inquisitive - he was possibly looking for some food hiding under there. But who knows why he went looking in there?

"His head was right in the middle of the wheel. I managed to get the fox and the wheel into my van. At no point did the fox put up a struggle. 

"When I got to Wildlife Aid they were ready and waiting. They managed to manipulate his ear out of the hole. He didn't have any injuries - just a swollen face.

"This was a brand new tyre. It's always worth thinking about storing equipment out of reach of wildlife."

Luckily, the fox had no injuries and was released back into the wild three days later.