FIREFIGHTERS found themselves faced with a rather unusual victim in need of rescue at the weekend - an injured baby deer stuck in a drain.

The hapless creature fell into the deep pit at a building site in Richards Field, off Long Lane, Chineham, Basingstoke, where a new housing estate is being developed.

It is believed to be part of a family of four deer that had been accidentally fenced into the site by workmen when they secured it over the weekend.

A resident living nearby discovered the trapped animals on Sunday and found the roe buck deer eight feet down in the pit where a storm drain is being built.

Unable to free the frightened animal, the neighbour called in the RSPCA and the fire brigade shortly before 6pm. Station Officer Paul Coates, of Basingstoke fire station, said 12 firefighters went to the scene.

He said: "The deer was bleeding from its head because it was panicking and kept running into things.

"Two of us climbed down into the hole where the deer was and covered its head to calm it.

"Then we put it into a canvas bag and brought it up out of the hole, and the RSPCA man took the deer away to patch it up.

"The whole thing took us about one-and-a-half hours. It was dark and muddy and we were all frozen solid.

"We've dealt with animal rescues before, but never a deer in a drain."

Both an RSPCA officer and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's own animal advisor helped the firefighters decide how to handle the situation.

Jo Barr, an RSPCA press officer, said the deer is believed to have suffered a broken bone in its muzzle.

It has been taken to an independent charity rescue centre near Guildford that specialises in caring for deer, and will be released back into the wild after treatment.