FOUR baby wagtail birds are recovering after their nest crumbled away on Leighton Hospital’s roof.

Staff in the pathology department were alerted to the birds’ plight after seeing one of them inside an air vent on Wendesday, July 12.

The bird was rescued and taken to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich but the following day staff rescued three more birds after climbing to the roof.

John Davenport, who works at Leighton Hospital, said: “We managed to remove the grill on Thursday and rescue the second bird.

“But we were concerned that there would be more which might fall down the chute so myself and a colleague went onto the roof to see if we could find where the birds were coming from.

“When we got up there we saw that their nest had completely disintegrated and fallen down the ventilation shaft.

“We found the other two baby birds, one of which was resting on the ledge of the roof, but we couldn’t see any sign of mum.”

The remaining three birds were reunited with their sibling at Stapeley Grange.

Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, said: “Without mum around they would have starved as they’re not able to go out and get their own food yet.

“It’s really heartwarming to think that not only are the staff at Leighton Hospital saving people’s lives, but they are saving animal’s lives too.

“The birds are doing really well after their ordeal and they are very lively and chirpy. They are being fed a diet of mealworms which they are really enjoying.

“They will get bigger by the day and when they are big enough they will be moved into our aviary, which is the last step before being returned to the wild.”

RSPCA are available to contact 24 hours a day on 0300 1234 999.

More information on what to do if you find a nestling bird can be found on rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/orphanedanimals/youngbirds.