‘Lethargic’ fox with watering can stuck on head freed at South Essex Wildlife Hospital

A fox rescued by a milkwoman performed "several wall of death laps" after its head was freed from a watering can.

In the early hours of the morning, the woman took the fox to South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Grays after discovering the trapped animal during one of her delivery rounds.

But when staff removed the "lethargic" fox from the can, it made a “break for freedom and a brief battle ensued.”

In a Facebook post published by the hospital, it showed the animal on top of a radiator staring directly at staff after it left a "trail of destruction" in a consultation room before being recaptured.

The vet said the incident showed how "wildlife can always surprise us and should never be taken for granted".

Although it was not clear how long the fox had been trapped in the watering can, the post said the animal had been dehydrated and had also sustained a cut to one of its feet.

It needed stitches and antibiotics to treat its wounded foot.

The hospital plans to release the fox back into the wild in a few days.