15 FOOT pythons, a bat in Bobby Charlton's bedroom and releasing a bird rescued from fishing tackle are all in a day's work for an RSPCA officer.

Whether it is ducklings trapped at the bottom of a 14 foot drop or a dead albino Burmese python dumped in bins behind bars on Bridge Street, the charity is an animal's emergency services with officers providing 24 hour cover and dealing with emergencies calls as far away as Stoke or North Wales.

The Warrington Guardian met up with animal welfare officer John Littlewood, after he had been on a night shift involving 19 jobs which he classed as a 'quiet night', to get a taste of what staff face everyday.

Our first port of call is Connaught Avenue in Padgate after a call from a concerned family about a wood pigeon that has been attacked by a cat.

The bird's wing is badly damaged and later he has to be put to sleep.

The 38-year-old, from Wirral, deals with hundreds of similar calls every month but despite requests for callers to make a donation when they contact the RSPCA over an animal in need, John's number only collected £300 last year.

It was the highest figure in the Cheshire group but equates to just one and a half vet bills to help a cat be pain free after a road accident.

The next call involves a search for a duck on Walton Reservoir with a suspected broken wing.

John says he will look for as long as he can for an injured animal depending on his case load and is 'forever getting into trouble at home' pinching the last slices of bread to entice poorly ducks or swans.

But after getting close to the bird he is confident it has a deformity called angel wing and will be fine.

As we head over to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich to drop off a poorly seagull and collect a swan rescued near Howley after being caught in fishing tackle, we discuss the highs and lows of his role over the last 22 years.

He added: "It's a job where you always feel you can give more and never look at your clock and think 'When's home time'.

"There were real extremes last year where I was dealing with a puppy whose legs had been snapped which was awful but the rest of it, for me, you become fairly used to and when you remove an animal from horrific treatment you know it's going to get better from that point.

"And something like the swan rescue can make your day when it all works out."

With a farewell honk, the rehabilitated swan happily swims away after being released where he was found on the Mersey near Wharf Street. Job done.

Then the afternoon is filled with house calls in Birchwood and Latchford over animals who have possibly been abandoned at home including a cat and goldfish and a Staffordshire bull terrier.

There is no answer so a note is left and an employee will return tomorrow to knock again.

Animal welfare officers have to make tough decisions every day taking into account varying finances at each local branch of the RSPCA and vet bills.

And then there is the difficult task of finding animals a new home.

"I'm forever ringing around every animal centre in the north of England with a dog in the back of my van to be told 'We're full', John adds.

"More often than not someone manages to find space but they're not being presented with an easy dog to rehome.

"The centres don't euthanise animals so we try not to take any animal unless their welfare is at risk."

It means people can be quick to criticise the charity on social media but John adds: "We have to be everything from investigation officers to rescues from tall buildings or animals trapped underground.

"We often have to cover four counties and there are not many of us so we get to calls as soon as we can."

To donate £3 to the RSPCA, text HELP52 to 70099.