Three young hedgehogs are recovering at Vine Tree Vets, Ross-on-Wye, after a narrow escape from dehydration, starvation and almost certain death.

They were rescued from underneath a cattle grid thanks to an eagle-eyed dog walker and the power of social media.

When Claire Richards was out walking her dogs at Hartleton Lakes this morning, Thursday, June 28th, she spotted a group of hedgehogs which had fallen into the cattle grid. She tried without success to get them out and even tried to find something to make a ramp.

She told the Ross Gazette that it was obvious the ones that were still alive would need to see a vet sooner rather than later. She was worried that by the time she had got her dogs sorted and then returned home to collect a box and some gloves there was a good chance they may not survive.

It was then that Claire posted a desperate plea on the Ross On Wye Noticeboard Facebook page asking if anyone in the area could help. Within a very short time Zoe Edwards from Castrees Garden Plants saw the post about the hedgehogs and immediately went out and helped to rescue them and then took them to Vine Tree Vets.

Sarah Robinson, Practice Manager at the Vets told the Gazette that the charity based at the surgery, Pins and Needles Rescue, had taken on the care and rehabilitation of the creatures.

She said that the staff at Vine Tree will look after the family until they can decide what to do with them. One option will be to return them to the area where they were found.

Sarah added that it is almost certain that they would not have survived much longer without food or water, and in the heat, so they were very lucky that Claire found them and was determined to rescue them.

Claire told the Gazette: “I knew that by posting on FB, with the fab people we have living here, someone would be able to help.Zoe added that everyone loves hedgehogs at Castrees. She said she is very grateful to the lady who found them, and all their customers for donating money to the hedgehog rescue at the vets.