Firefighters rescue bird

CARING firefighters have been praised for flying to the rescue of a bird who had flown into a children's nursery.

The firefighters were called out to the Trinity Hall Kindergarten in South Woodford after the bird, a jay, flew into the hall, and was unable to get out.

Nursery manager Maureen Cassidy said she had to send all 40 children from the kindergarten home because the poor bird was becoming distressed, and it was dangerous for the children.

But when she tried to get help to rescue the bird, her pleas fell on deaf ears.

She told the Guardian: "I tried to get the bird on a ladder but couldn't, so I had no option but to close the nursery.

"I phoned Goddard and Allen veterinary surgery for help and advice, and they gave me some numbers.

"I phoned the Animal Rescue Sanctuary, the RSPCA, and the PDSA but nobody could send somebody.

"I even phoned the RSPB (the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) but they said because it wasn't a PDSA nobody would come out to help me."

Ms Cassidy eventually went to Woodford fire station who called on the Leytonstone station to send some firefighters to the rescue.

"When the firefighters turned up, they were absolutely brilliant," she said.

"Thanks to their influence, they managed to enlist the help of someone from the RSPCA and together they spent ages helping to free the bird."

An hour later they caught the bird, which landed momentarily on a 35ft high window ledge in a net.

"It was nice to see that firefighters are prepared to give up their time like this," said Ms Cassidy.

"They were really good to the children who were in the hall adjoining the main one. While the rescue was taking place, they allowed the children to take it in turns to sit in their fire engine."

22:22 Friday 11th April 2003

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