WATER rescue crews from Perry Barr Fire Station were called to assist a heron in distress in Cradley Heath on Sunday.

RSPCA officers drafted in extra resources after being called to Haden Hill Park, where a heron was caught in discarded fishing line.

The firefighters used a raft to paddle over to an island where the bird was trapped and an RSPCA officer rescued the heron, discovering that it had also been shot with an air gun.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "We did attend the incident and our officer went out with the Fire Service to rescue the bird which was caught in some fishing line.

Related content "We cut it free and it was then taken to our RSPCA hospital where it is currently being cared for. It is still being treated and during the examination we did find that it had two air gun pellets in it as well."