A fox was shot and caught in an illegal trap before being rescued by the RSPCA and a wildlife hospital.

The vixen's foot was stuck in the illegal gin trap and rushed to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

The hospital said the poor animal was providing milk and therefore had left cubs which needed feeding.

They also shared a video of the fox being released from the trap.

A spokesman for the charity said: "Thank you to everyone supporting our fund raising efforts. Your contributions go towards treating animals such as this fox who was captured by the RSPCA with its paw caught in an illegal gin trap.

"As if this wasn't bad enough she had also been shot. The vixen was also lactating so her cubs will now be left and we can only hope she had a mate who is bring the cubs food and that they were old enough to eat it."