A FOX cub found with its head stuck in a jam jar in the middle of a main road has been rescued by firefighters.

Essex Fire and Rescue firefighters Steve Small, Charlie Pike, Joe Tindall and crew manager Ash Phillips were driving an engine on the A1306 towards Lakeside yesterday morning when they spotted the fox in the middle of the road.

They managed to catch the cub, remove the jar and took her to the nearest veterinary practice in Orsett.

There, she was checked, fed and released in a safe location.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Firefighters rescued this gorgeous fox cub this morning after they found it with a jam jar stuck on its head.

"Firefighters Steve Small, Charlie Pike, Joe Tindall and Crew Manager Ash Phillips were driving a fire engine on the A1306 towards Lakeside when they spotted the fox in the middle of the road.

"Thankfully they were able to catch the baby vixen, remove the jar and then took to her to a local veterinary practice in Orsett where she was checked, fed and released into a safe location

"A very happy ending."