Volunteers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) have been shopping for birds today.

Rescuers were actually called out to Poundland on Terminus Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex on Sunday 29th July 2012 after a juvenile wood pigeon decided walk in through the open door of the store and get stuck!

The young bird was frightened by a shopper and flew up to the top of a shelving unit, then fell down behind and became stuck. Rescuers Trevor Weeks MBE and partner Kathy Martyn attended on site at the store. "After releasing quite a few casualties back to the wild over the past couple of weeks, we decided to go shopping for more casualties today, funds are tight at the moment so trying to keep costs down and looking for a bargain we visited Poundland. I'm not sure why the pigeon entered the store, I did wonder if it was looking for a pet shop!" added Trevor.

"On a more serious note - using a ladder I was able to look down the back of the wall unit and using a torch I could see the pigeon right at the bottom at floor level stuck between the shelving unit and the wall of the store. I was really unsure of how we were going to get to the bird as the staff at the store did not think it was possible to get behind the unit from the bottom" explained Trevor.

Kathy and Trevor cleared the sweets from a section of the shelving and took away the shelves, then luckily found a metal plate which they were able to unscrew. "This left a 2.5 inch gap under the shelving and Trevor and I were just about able to get our fingers under to hold the pigeon and slowing and carefully manoeuvre the pigeon out" said rescuer Kathy.

The pigeon was checked over and found to have a minor wound to one leg. The bird was taken back to WRAS for treatment.

"We have told the pigeon he should have gone to Specsavers!" added Kathy.

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Press Contact: Trevor Weeks - East Sussex WRAS: 01825 873003 or 07931 523958

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