AN owl was rescued by fire crews after it got tangled in a tree alongside a major road near York.

A lane was closed on the A64 near Askham Bryan while firefighters rescued the snowy owl.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene at about 2.20pm today.

A spokesperson for the fire service said the protected bird was from a falconry display and had become tangled by its jess in a tree.

The spokesperson added that an aerial ladder platform was used to transport the bird's keeper up to the branch to rescue it.