The mission on the Holly Lodge Estate

A CROWD gathered as firefighters climbed an aerial ladder to save a pigeon tangled-up at the top of a tall tree.

There was a round of applause as teams from Kentish Town and Soho freed the squawking bird that had become snared to a branch by string wrapped around a foot.

It had been spotted “dangling and almost lifeless” in the Holly Lodge estate, Highgate, by Sabrina Bordin of the London Pigeon String Foot and Rescue group.

The group’s co-founder Karen Heath praised the “absolutely amazing” firefighters, adding that the pigeon had been named Aerial after the ladder used to rescue it. It is being nursed back to health in a member’s home before being released close to the spot it was found in the hope it can be reunited with its one true love.

The pigeon has been called ‘Aerial’

Ms Heath said: “Pigeons are monogamous, they have a partner for life, people don’t realise that. So we know this pigeon may be really missing them their partner at the moment. Pigeons can show distress, they can get despondent and sad.”

She said pigeons often got tangled up in threads, adding: “Mostly it is human hair. People put out hair from their hairbrushes because they think it’s good for birds to use in nests and they are doing a nice thing for nature. But actually it’s really hazardous for pigeons’ legs and birds.”

You can apply to join the London Pigeon String Foot and Rescue group on Facebook.