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A major rescue operation was launched to free a seagull that got stuck behind netting on the front of a building.

Police closed down a street in Woolwich, south-east London, as London Fire Brigade moved in to rescue the bird on Saturday morning.

The gull had been stuck in the netting in front of the building since Thursday.

Animal welfare officers decided a full scale rescue operation was needed to free the trapped gull which they said would have suffered a slow painful death from dehydration.

Wellington Street was closed while the firefighters were lifted on a platform about 20 metres up to the top of the building where the bird had got stuck.

The gull was taken away by an RSPCA officer and checked over by a vet who said it could released after being given some food and water.

Inspector Anthony Pulfer said: “A member of the public was walking by and saw the bird trapped behind netting on Thursday night. We assessed it yesterday to see if it could be rescued without the fire brigade but it just wasn’t possible.

“We came back today and were concerned that it was dehydrated. There was no other way of getting it out and it would have died.

“The fire brigade were really helpful They immediately knew it wouldn’t be an easy ladder job. Netting is quite an issue for animals getting trapped, but this is unusual.”

Dozens of onlookers cheered as the bird was brought back to the ground.

John Gilleran, 65, said: “It must have cost a lot to rescue. It had been there for two days and the pigeons would have had it. It was struggling, you could it flapping its wings trying to get out.”