FIZZ the peacock had a lucky escape when it got caught under a grille at the Woodlands Residential Home.

Fizz, together with Tizz a fellow peacock, has been at the old people's home on Park Road for the last six months. Staff think Fizz could have been trapped under the grate all night.

They found the bird at 10am but were not able to move the heavy grille themselves for fear of dropping it on the bird.

Darwen firefighters arrived at the scene and managed to free the bird unharmed.

Assistant manager at the home Julie Ingram said the peacocks were very popular with residents and usually 'pottered' around the grounds of the home.

She said the residents were relieved to see Fizz fly away unscathed.

This is the second time one of the birds has got stuck under the grille and proprietor Linda Hawtrey's husband Graham is now making a guard to ensure the peacocks are not put through the same ordeal again.