An animal charity has slammed the use of an "inhumane and cruel" snare after a fox was found hanging from the wires in Suffolk.

RSPCA inspectors believe it had been intentionally set up to catch foxes. It was 2ft off the ground on a wire fence in woodland off Barningham Road in Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds.

The animal was caught around the waist when he was discovered, meaning it did not cause serious injury, but could have resulted in far more suffering.

Chris Nice, an RSPCA inspector, said the fox would have starved to death if he had not been found. It took 40 minutes to cut it free.