A DEER had to be rescued by fire crews after it had become wedged between two walls in Headington for 10 hours.

Passersby contacted the RSPCA on Monday after hearing squealing coming from the gap between an outhouse wall and a garden wall in Stephen Road.

Thinking it was a fox, animal collection officer Grace Mead and inspector Lauren Bailey were shocked to discover it was actually a muntjac deer.

Fire crews knocked down part of the walls and used hydraulic equipment to prise them apart so the officers could rescue the animal.

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The deer, thought to be about one-year-old, only suffered some minor grazes to his hind legs and face.

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The deer stuck between the walls. Picture from RSPCA

Once he had been assessed, the RSPCA released him in woods nearby.

Ms Mead said: “The deer was completely upside-down and we had no way of getting him out, so we are so grateful to the fire service for their help.

"We’re also grateful to the landowner who was happy for the walls to be partly dismantled.

“Once the walls were moved apart we were able to slide the deer out by the legs and into a container so we could assess him.

"He was extremely happy to be free and the right way up again and amazingly suffered no major injuries.

“It was great to see a bit of team work end on such a happy note.”