A hedgehog which has "blown up like a beach ball" has been rescued by the RSPCA and diagnosed with a severe case of balloon syndrome.

The animal, inflated to twice his size, was wandering around in circles in Toll Bar, Doncaster, when it was spotted by a concerned member of the public.

She told the RSPCA last Monday that the hedgehog was dragging its back leg, had blood on its nose and due to its size might be pregnant.

But when RSPCA Inspector Sandra Dransfield arrived, she could see that the animal was suffering from the rare condition balloon syndrome, when gas collects under the skin of the hedgehog, so it inflates like a balloon.

Ms Dransfield said: "It's the worst case of balloon syndrome I've seen. This poor chap was almost twice its natural size, literally blown up like a beach ball with incredibly taut skin.