All the cunning in the world couldn't help this young fox cub when he got his head wedged through the centre of a tyre.

Members of animal rescue charity Wildlife Aid were called to a garden in Stoneleigh after a member of the public realised the cub, nicknamed Dunlop', could not free himself.

Becky Banning, from Wildlife Aid, said: "To free the cub, we rolled some flexible plastic sheeting into a tube, which was then fitted over the cub's head and through the hole in the tyre. The tube was then pushed back through the hole in the tyre taking the cub with it."

The cub was taken to an animal hospital in Leatherhead where he was examined by a vet. His back claws were worn down and bleeding where he had been scratching at the tyre and his cheeks and jaw were swollen.

The cub was taken back to the garden where he was found and released.

Miss Banning said: "The message is clear - don't try and deal with animals yourself. We have had cases before where people have smeared animals in cooking oil or washing-up liquid, which only serves to matt the animal's fur and cause it unnecessary stress."