FIREFIGHTERS were called to release trapped animals in two separate incidents yesterday morning.

An emergency special crew from Sedgefield was alerted by RSPCA inspectors after a deer became trapped in railings in the village's Butterwick Lane.

It took about half an hour for the crew to free the animal, which had tried to squeeze through a gap in the railings.

David Turnbull of Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade, said: "The thing with deer is their head and shoulders are quite narrow, but they can't manoeuvre their hinds very well, and they don't have the sense to go backwards."

At about the same time, the brigade was alerted to two bullocks which had become trapped in a gully at Preston Manor Farm, Preston-le-Skerne, near Newton Aycliffe.

Firefighters from Newton Aycliffe and the rope rescue team from Peterlee had to use considerable force to release them using a system of hoses.

Mr Turnbull said the animals had probably wandered into the ditch in search of water.

He said: "Although they are quite nimble, they are really heavy and some can weigh up to a ton."

Mr Turnbull said the brigade was getting an increasing number of calls to deal with animals in trouble.

He said: "People tend to contact us a lot more now for animal-type activities than they ever did in the past.

"The brigade has brought in a strategy to deal with these scenarios a little bit better.

"We are not experts, but we have become adept at it, and because the RSPCA have a limited amount of equipment they sometimes rely on us."