A DOG walker was alarmed to find a deadly snare in a public park - which he fears could have badly injured a child or family pet.

The cruel snare had trapped a fox and left the animal fighting for its life.

Marc Wright discovered the frightened creature bleeding in the bushes at Bold Venture Park, Darwen, on Tuesday morning.

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The kind-hearted 41-year-old, from Calder Avenue, immediately contacted the RSPCA and the wild animal was rescued.

But the experience left Mr Wright, who is a professional dog walker, worried about the safety of other pets and even children playing in the park.

Recalling the incident which unfolded when he was walking his own Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Lemmy, he said: “All of a sudden there was an almighty rumble in the bushes and then a lot of squealing.

“Lemmy came out of the bushes with blood on his nose, which puzzled me as he usually chases squirrels in there.

“I took a closer look and I could see a fox which couldn’t move or escape, so I put Lemmy in the car and went back to investigate.

“I thought the fox would have disappeared by that time, but it was still there. I got to within about eight feet of it, so I knew it was trapped by something.

“I phoned the RSPCA and met the officer at the park. “She managed to get the wire around its neck and I held the pole while she got the crate and managed to get the fox inside.

“The snare had drawn quite a lot of blood, but she managed to clam the fox down.”

He added: “It is a real worry - I would hate to see a dog trapped by a snare.

“It’s a concern for everyone who uses the park.”

The animal was snared around its lower abdomen and had extensive wounds thought to be seven to 10 days old.

It was taken straight to a vet for treatment and has now been moved to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire, where it will continue to be cared for a until well enough to be released back into the wild.

RSPCA inspector Kat Newman, who attended the scene with Mr Wright, said: “This poor fox had clearly been in some pain for a while, and who knows what would have happened to it if this kind member of the public had not called us.

“Snaring can be such a cruel, indiscriminate method of capturing animals.

“Who knows what kind of wildlife the people who set this one were targeting, but their traps could have caught anything.

“The next victim could well be someone’s much-loved dog or cat.”

It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to intentionally snare a bird, deer or badger and those found guilty can receive up to six months imprisonment or be fined up to £5,000.

Councillor Jim Smith said: “It is completely disgraceful that people are attacking our wildlife and I condemn outright this kind of behaviour.

“I would ask people to be vigilant and if they see anything of this nature to contact the council or the RSPCA as soon as possible.”