A BUZZARD had a "miraculous" escape after getting trapped between the ladders and roof of a van.

A post on the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital Facebook page said the bird was "clipped" by the van on the A345 near Coombe Bissett and ended up becoming trapped earlier this week.

On discovering the bird and releasing it the "horrified builders" called the rescue charity, which is based in Newton Tony.

The post said: "This poor Buzzard had an awful experience, he was clipped by a van with ladders attached to the roof on the A345 the other side of Salisbury near Coombe Bissett. The driver was unaware that the bird who flew low near the moving vehicle was jammed between the ladders and roof of the van for the remainder of the trip into Salisbury. The horrified builders called us straight away after releasing it from its entrapment."

Luckily, the bird escaped with no fractures but it was said to have been "severely concussed".

The post added: "The buzzard had no fractures but was severely concussed, and we weren't certain it would make the day. Miraculously, it was standing the next day, he's not feeding himself yet but hopefully in time he will improve."

Marilyn Korkis from the charity today said: "It is coming around slowly but not eating for itself yet so I'm having to feed it.

"When I first saw it I thought this bird is probably not going to make it but he is standing up."

The wildlife hospital has been inundated with hedgehogs and is currently looking after up to 200.

Often at this time of year juvenile hedgehogs end up being brought into the charity after being found out in the day looking for food and are too small to hibernate.

"It is always expected this time of year because it is the autumn juveniles that need the help. It happens every year, it is not something that is unusual. We just have to be there to take the little ones in," said Marilyn.