A gluttonous grey squirrel was released from a bird feeder after it stuffed itself with nuts and became trapped.
Squirrel
The feeder - that was located in Hartlepool - was meant to be squirrel proof, but the rodent had managed to get wedged in after gorging on the nuts.
RSPCA officer Ruth Thomas-Coxon said they had to use wire cutters to free the bushy-tailed invader and that he was "obviously frightened" but was released without harm as he fled the scenes.
She said: "This greedy boy must have gone in - even though this is a squirrel-proof feeder - and obviously he had such a good feed he got wedged and was unable to exit.
"Luckily his predicament was spotted or he could have endured prolonged suffering.
"He was obviously frightened but otherwise appeared unscathed from his ordeal - however he probably needs to lay off the nuts for a while."
The RSPCA has urged people to keep an eye on their bird feeders to prevent situations like this from arising.