A FOX cub rescued by a member of the public may never be able to go back into the wild because of a serious leg injury.Bracken the fox cub was found in a back garden in Long Melford, near Sudbury.

A FOX cub rescued by a member of the public may never be able to go back into the wild because of a serious leg injury.

Bracken the fox cub was found in a back garden in Long Melford, near Sudbury. She was thought to have been abandoned by her mother after her leg was damaged, possibly at birth.

Now in the care of Suffolk and Essex Small Animal Welfare (Sesaw), in Leavenheath, near Sudbury, the seven-week-old cub needs constant human care and physiotherapy.

Maggie Jackaman, who runs Sesaw, said: “A member of the public found her in his garden and couldn't catch her until the next day.

“She has a bad leg, which could have been caused by another cub laying on it in the womb. The mother probably left the cub behind because of its injury - if the man hadn't found her she would have died

“She can walk fine but when she tries to hurry the leg just hangs, she wouldn't be able to hunt for food.

“I have to massage her leg as much as I can and manipulate it to try and make it better.”

If Bracken does not start to use her leg she will have to stay in captivity for life, at a sanctuary, said Mrs Jackaman.

But if the injury does heal Bracken's constant carer will have to start a long and difficult process of de-socialising her as she will be too friendly to humans thanks to the hands-on care from such a young age.

She added: “We always try to make sure wild animals get let back into the wild, but if she can't fend for herself she won't be able to. It's too soon to tell at the moment, we have to wait and see how she gets on.”