A badly-injured heron is back on the flightpath to recovery thanks to two caring Tiptree vets.

The heron was discovered in a Tiptree back garden in a emaciated condition and with a badly injured leg.

But after a few days of tender, loving care and some delicate surgery the bird is feeling much chirpier.

Assistant vet at the Tiptree Veterinary Centre, Gerhard Putter, who has a special interest in birds, said he was amazed the bird had lasted so long and may well of resorted to feeding on fish from garden ponds to survive.

"It was in a bad way and its leg must have been broken and grown back in the wrong way.

"It was stumbling over its feet all the time and may have been in this condition for three or four weeks.

"How it survived with such pain and suffering is amazing. It must have a very strong will to live."

The heron had to be force-fed to build up its strength and on Wednesday Mr Potter carried out surgery to reset its leg into the correct position.

He is pleased with his patient's progress and hopes the bird will be released back to the wild after a period of rehabilitation at a makeshift enclosure away from the surgery.

"We have to be careful it does not get too used to being around people," said Mr Putter.

"There is a good chance it will be able to fly, if we can get the leg to grow back nicely."

One of the centre's staff will be caring for the bird at their home, highlighting Mr Putter's concerns there were no such facilities for injured birds in this area.

"It needs to be rehabilitated and brought on further," he said.

Caring -- vets Gerhard Putter and Don Bremner with the heron.

Picture: STEVE ARGENT

By Lisa Cockrell

Reporter's e-mail: lisa_cockrell@thisisessex.co.uk

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