A heartwarming video shows the moment a sparrowhawk is returned to the wild by the RSPCA after it became entangled in netting before flying inside a hotel.

The bird was spotted by a staff member trapped under netting at a hotel in North Promenade, Lytham-St-Annes on Thursday September 2.

They contacted the RSPCA and animal rescuer inspector Will Lamping was sent to the scene, where he could see the sparrowhawk trapped under the bird deterrent device.

Somehow, the bird had managed to get through some holes in the netting and was flying around an enclosed area which covered the top of the first storey of the building.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Staff members joined Will on the flat roof of the first storey to try and safely catch the bird of prey - but the frightened sparrowhawk flew inside the hotel and into the hallway.

Once there, Will was able to use a net to capture the bird and he could see it was unscathed by the incident.

Will then placed the bird in a box before he took it a short distance away to be released back into the wild.

He said: “It seems the sparrowhawk had managed to get into the bird deterrent netting through a hole and was then unable to escape so was in quite a flap.

“It was great that staff members saw the bird’s predicament and called us to help as sometimes in these cases the birds become trapped and remain unseen and sadly starve to death.

“A number of workers at the hotel helped guide me when the bird was flying so I could try and safely capture it - I was really grateful to them.

“This case shows the dangers of bird-deterrent netting and the need for it to be installed properly and regularly maintained to ensure that birds cannot become trapped.

“It was great that in this case there was a happy ending and it was lovely to see this majestic bird fly to freedom.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Each year thousands of reports are made to the RSPCA about wild birds trapped in or behind netting. A large number of these involve bird-deterrent netting.

Problems arise when netting is put up incorrectly or becomes damaged, leaving gaps where birds can enter and become trapped.

These birds can suffer a long and painful death from injury or starvation.

Unfortunately bird-deterrent netting is often fixed in high or hard-to-reach areas, making the rescue of trapped animals difficult and dangerous.

If you see a live animal entangled in or trapped behind netting, please immediately contact the RSPCA’s cruelty and advice helpline on 0300 1234 999 or visit rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals.