TREVOR WEEKS: We need your help to look out for missing fox cubs

Whilst WRAS rescuers were on their way the caller rang again to inform us that a person that works on the promenade had picked the pigeon up and wrung its neck, and apparently then thrown it onto the beach.

To say the least, we were shocked that this was being reported, and rescuers continued to the scene to collect the body as evidence in case a criminal offence had been committed.

Rescuer Chloe from Eastbourne arrived at the pier shortly after 12.30pm and quickly found the body of the pigeon. But as she made way over to the pigeon she soon realised it was in fact still alive and had been left to slowly and painfully die on the beach.

The bird was rushed up to WRAS’s hospital where our vet, Sophie, was on hand to give emergency medication. It had quite a lot of trauma to its head and neck and was placed into our ICU unit for one on one care and close monitoring.

Sussex Police have been informed of the incident and anyone who witnessed the incident please contact Sussex Police on 101 with Ref: SXP-20180422-0839 as we believe an offence has occurred.

We would never advise anyone to wring a birds neck, especially when there are emergency veterinary centre so widely available or rescue organisations which can be called on.

Sunday also saw rescuers called to a rather unusual rescue after receiving reports of a hedgehog in need of rescue from a crocodile!

We are quite lucky in the UK that our wildlife is quite tame in comparison to other countries, so we were a bit worried when we were told the hedgehog was on the back of a crocodile, but relieved when we were told the crocodile was not real.

Members of the public visiting Treasure Island park on Eastbourne seafront spotted the hedgehog on the decorative crocodile surrounded by water.

The hedgehog had clearly got a bit lost found himself in the water and climbed out onto this helpful reptile to give him a rest.