FIREFIGHTERS were called to the centre of Basildon to help a pigeon in distress...only for it to fly away.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were called to Town Square, Basildon at around 3.30pm today.

The service were called out by the RSPCA.

Witnesses reported seeing the fire engine plus crews in the middle of the square.

A spokesman for the service said: "We were called to an incident in the Town Square - the RSPCA had been called about a pigeon in distress, thought to be impaled on a spike and they needed to use one of our ladders.

"The pigeon then flew away before they got to it, so no action was needed."