We’ve all heard jokes about firefighters rescuing cats up trees but yesterday it was a pigeon that needed saving from above a shop sign.

The bird caused a flap when it got trapped in anti-pigeon netting in The Broadway, Woodford Green.

Teams from Woodford Fire Station were called to the scene at Chrystall chemist.

Firefighter Andrew Denmark said: “The pigeon had got his leg trapped and his foot was quite badly cut.

“There was no way he could have freed it himself so we got a ladder up there to cut the netting and brought him down.

“We couldn’t really miss him because he was flapping around.”

The RSPCA was on hand to help the rescue, which was watched by a crowd of bemused passers-by shortly after 9.30am.

The bird has been taken to recuperate at a wildlife centre and will be released into the wild when he is recovered.

Andrew said pigeon rescues are becoming a bit of a trend as they also get stuck in netting put over guttering.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “Sadly cases like this are not uncommon.

“We do urge shopkeepers and others who have netting on their buildings to ensure it is properly maintained and does not have holes or any other kind of issues which may lead it to be a hazard for wildlife.”