A crowd cheered as a firefighter rescued a trapped seagull from the top of a three-storey building with the help of the aerial platform on Saturday.
Two fire engines partially blocked London Road for about 15 minutes during the rescue, which started at 3.27pm. The aerial platform was requested about five minutes later and, by 3.45pm, the bird was freed.
A local animal charity was also at the scene. This video, posted by Philip Murphy on Saturday, shows the operation in full swing – with bonus footage of Bhangra dancing at the Open Market in its second half.
Specialist Operations Manager Matt Elder said: “Seagulls are a protected species and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service are occasionally called to assist the RSPB or RSPCA as the birds are often trapped at height or are in inaccessible areas.
“Quite often if a baby gull is trapped adult seagulls will swoop and attack people who may be in close vicinity. Therefore, to avoid placing members of the public in any danger firefighters rescue the distressed bird.”
A spokeswoman said that the force normally asks that animal rescue charities are called in first. She added that one of the things taken into account when there is an animal in distress is whether people will put their safety at risk to rescue it.
