Hedgehog painted blue dies despite rescue effort

Rescuers have been left "devastated" after a hedgehog that was painted blue and yellow died despite their efforts to save it.

The adult female was found earlier this month in a woman's garden in Yeadon, Leeds, appearing to have been daubed in paint to look like Sonic the Hedgehog.

Diane Cook, from Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue in Otley, who cared for the stricken creature she named Honey, said the animal had succumbed to a "cruel and unnecessary death".

Four males aged 44, 21, 17 and 15 were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and have been released on bail.

Announcing the news on Facebook, Cook said: "We don't normally post on here about the losses within the rescue but many people have been asking about her and her story has been shared across the country.

"To say that I'm devastated is an understatement and I just cannot believe, or understand, what some people are capable of doing to any living thing."

Cook had previously said that the fumes from the paint meant Honey had "severe breathing problems" and could not curl up into a ball.

Rescuers had to scrape the oil-based paint from each spine and administer pain relief.

In her social media post, Cook said the charity was trying its hardest to help sick and injured hedgehogs but was facing an "uphill battle".

She added: "Hedgehogs are only on the red list because of the problems that humans are causing.

"When are people going to stop and think about their actions and the impact they are having on nature?"

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