Fox lured from seven-storey rooftop using sardines

A fox stranded on the roof of a seven-storey building in Surrey has been rescued by the RSPCA.

Builders found the fox on a rooftop in Manor Court, Weybridge, after she chewed through a fire door in the apartment building, but was unable to get back down.

RSPCA officers were unable to catch the fox using a "grasper" so instead laid a trap with food and water, but she showed little interest until some fresh sardines were used as bait.

The fox was eventually brought to safety and was successfully released into the wild on Tuesday.

Ben Fitzcosta and Meg Lloyd were the officers who saved the day.

"We tried to catch her with the grasper first but she was very scared, and we feared she would jump over the scaffolding. So we left a trap out with food in it overnight and some water for her," said Mr Fitzcosta.

"Unfortunately she wasn't tempted at first, but when I replaced the food with sardines she went straight in.

"Safely in the trap we got her back down to ground level and assessed her. Thankfully she was in really good condition, so I released her at the nearby cricket club.

"She shot out of the basket at such a speed I dropped my phone and missed filming the release. It's a great sign that she has bounced back from the ordeal."

The RSPCA said anyone who finds an injured or sick fox should not try to handle it and should keep a safe distance.

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