From underweight seal pups to injured foxes and birds, no challenge is too big for the team at South Essex Wildlife Hospital which is already facing one of the busiest years on record.

This year so far has seen a spike in grey seal pups that need help, providing a new challenge for the charity with every seal needing its own space and pool time.

Over the weekend, the hospital released two grey seals back into the water.

When first admitted, one was close to being euthanised after spending four days alone.

However, despite the “odds being stacked against him”, the wildlife hospital were able to nurse him back to health.

Just weeks ago, a fox was found badly injured and the hospital launched an appeal to find its cubs. Within five days, with the help of the public, four cubs were found, and were saved by the animal hospital.

Sue Schwar, founder, added: “The seal pup situation is getting to the point we are really struggling to cope with somewhere to put them all.

“We have also had a lot of fox cubs, which always seems to increase year on year. We actually rescued a fox hanging from a fence in Tilbury, but sadly she couldn’t be saved.

“However, we have since managed to rescue four cubs, who have managed to survive and are now with us in rehabilitation.” It was a massive effort, and residents across south Essex are very helpful with our appeals.”

Many animals are helped by Tom Linsel, the lead vet.

In March, a bird had become tangled in a fishing line and was left dangling from a tree over the water at Lake Meadows, in Billericay.

Tom managed to kayak across the lake, climb the tree, and cut the poor bird free before rushing back to the animal hospital for examination.

Sue added: “We are very fortunate that a lot of people support us, whether that is with donations, or items like towels. The support really helps us.

“The whole thing is a knackering job to be in. It isn’t glamour or money, it is stressful and busy.

“People don’t realise the pressure we are under. We can get more than 100 calls a day, and we just can’t get to that many animals, so without people being prepared to bring them, we couldn’t help as many as we do. But it is hard. Tom, our lead vet, is vital. We couldn’t manage without him.”