A STRANDED badger was given a helping hand by the RSPCA after it got stuck in a children’s skate park in Kidderminster.

Worried members of the public raised the alarm after spotting the exhausted desperately struggling to clamber out the bottom of the bowl at the facility at Brinton’s Park on Sutton Road on Saturday (October 21).

The poor animal’s ordeal came to an end when RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith arrived to try to get it out, prompting the badger to dart away from her and eventually out of the bowl.

She said: “The poor badger was clearly exhausted from attempting to get himself out and was just lying motionless at the bottom of the bowl when I arrived.

“When I approached the badger with a towel to try to secure him to get him out, he suddenly came to life, ran a length of the bowl then turned and ran at the sides this time with enough momentum to get to the top.

“It was great to see him successfully run off and great to see he was uninjured by his unexpected escapades in the skate bowl.

“I’d advise anyone who spots an animal in a similar situation to always get in touch with us and not try to rescue the animal themselves as they could end up hurting themselves or cause the animal more stress or injury.”

Anyone who sees an animal which needs rescuing is asked to contact the charity’s 24-hour helpline on 0300 1234 999.

For more information on what to do with a wild animal in need of help, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals