A GULL found itself in a sticky situation after landing in a vat of used cooking oil.

The inquisitive bird had to be rescued after flying in and becoming trapped in the cold liquid being stored in an outside bin behind the McDonald's restaurant and drive-through in Weymouth.

Quick-thinking staff fished it out and took it to the nearby Vets4Pets store nearby on the Jubilee Retail Park.

The RSPCA was informed and the gull was cleaned up at its rescue centre.

Tommy Lockwood, Shift Manager at McDonald's, said the bird was discovered in a grease barrel one morning as they were emptying waste.

"It was in there in a distressed state and it took them a few attempts to get it out," he said.

"They managed to get it out and took it down the road where it could be looked after."

RSPCA inspector Ken Snook said: “We’ve all heard of the drive-through but for this gull it was a fly-through.

"Thankfully staff at the restaurant were quick to react after discovering the distressed gull outside trapped in the vat of oil and helped him to Vets4Pets.”

The gull was transferred to RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre near Taunton to be cleaned up and rehabilitated before being released back into the wild.

Mr Snook added: “Oil can be damaging to birds - it damages their plumage so affecting their ability to stay warm and dry, but it is expected he will make a full recovery and when ready he will be released back into the wild.”

If you spot an animal in distress call the RSPCA’s emergency helpline on 0300 1234 999.

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