Gosport fox with tube around its neck is rescued

Second Chance Fox Rescue and Rehabilitation said it was "urgently" searching for the animal after a woman first saw it in Weevil Lane two weeks ago.

The "very elusive" fox was eventually found and rescued on Friday morning. 

Steve Mason, who has been running the North Baddesley fox rescue centre for eight years, used chicken and sausages to attract the fox - a young vixen - to then net her and take her to the centre.

The rescued fox (Image: Debra L Jessie)

In a post on Facebook, he said: "Thank you to everyone involved with this fox’s capture and it was a fantastic team effort by all of the girls, and Stuart, here at the centre with many days trudging around in the cold and wet up and down Weevil lane trying to locate her.

"Fox rescue is certainly not glamorous or easy in the majority of cases but is so very rewarding when the target fox has been captured."

Steve said the tube had been rubbing against the fox's skin causing "nasty abrasions" under her chin and around her ears which had become infected.

The animal was given antibiotics and pain relief, and an antiseptic spray was used to treat her wounds.

It's likely the fox got her head caught in the tube on a building site while looking for rats and food left by people.