A PICTURE has captured the spirit of work at Thurrock-based South Essex Wildlife Hospital

The picture of a fox cub reared at the Orsett hospital was taken by its operations manager Lawrie Brailey, who said: "'There's nothing better than watching a patient return to the wild, but there's something very special about one that you've raised from just a few days old.

"Every year, South Essex Wildlife Hospital helps hundreds of injured, orphaned or sick fox cubs get their second chance back in the wild.

"It's a long process, with cubs arriving in March and leaving in September, and takes a lot of work to make sure they stay wild, but every second is worth it when they finally taste freedom.

"The fox is one of our 2026 fox cub intake. We have had more than 200 this year and unfortunately I can't be exactly sure of the original circumstances of this fox.

"The most common reason for admission is either abandonment or entanglement in garden netting, but we also see a lot of RTAs (collision with a car) and dog attacks."

Lawrie adds: "Foxes make up a large part of the 11,500 patients SEWH admit every year and we are hugely thankful for all of the staff, volunteers, rescuers, vets and kind public supporters who have made this possible."

Find out more about the hospital and its work - and also have the opportunity to support it by a donation via this link.