AN APPEAL has gone out to landowners to maintain or remove old fencing after a deer running through the Suffolk countryside became dangerously entangled in electrical tape.

AN APPEAL has gone out to landowners to maintain or remove old fencing after a deer running through the Suffolk countryside became dangerously entangled in electrical tape.

These pictures show how the beautiful stag got into difficulties, wound up in loose tape around its antlers, as it desperately tried to wriggle itself free.

It is thought he had been running across the land near Peacocks Road in Cavendish, near Sudbury when he went straight into the tape.

The RSCPA had to launch a rescue operation lasting more than two hours to safely release the animal. This involved covering the deer's head to calm him down before tying his back legs together to stop him from jumping and becoming even more entangled.

Once the fencing was removed the stag recovered on the ground for a few minutes before bounding away to join four does and a fawn who had been waiting in the distance.

RSPCA inspector Jason Finch said: “This was a very successful rescue. We worked to cause minimal distress to the deer and get him freed as soon as possible.

“It was great to see him run off to freedom. However, these incidents are fairly common and can lead to deer being seriously injured. I would urge anyone who uses any kind of fencing to maintain it properly or remove it completely to prevent this from happening.”