Two officers from the Maldon Local Policing Team had a rather different job to normal last night - replacing chasing criminals with freeing a four-legged friend.

Yesterday evening, November 6, the team responded to reports of a trapped deer in the Maldon area.

On arrival, they found the distressed animal trapped in some metal fencing. 

Officers soon freed the animal, preventing any further distress. (Credit: Essex Police - Maldon District)

After some quick thinking the officers freed the animal.

One of the officers working on the job, PC Knight, said: "We could not leave the poor thing like that.

"It was crying and was clearly in distress.

"We had to intervene to help it and that is what we did."

The deer's back legs had become stuck inbetween the fence prongs. (Credit: Essex Police - Maldon District)

Pictures posted by the Maldon Town Team show what appears to be a fawn struggle in the undergrowth.

Comments on social media praising the officers have already begun flowing in, thanking the officers for their "great work".