THE RSPCA have rescued a lamb on the Llyn Peninsula who was stuck on a cliff edge without grazing and being pecked by birds.

The charity was alerted by walkers who spotted the sheep stranded on the ledge at the Trefor Sea Stacks.

No grazing was available on the cliff edge, and she was surrounded by nesting birds pecking her every time she moved.

The lamb was in urgent need of help and without rescue faced a 20-metre drop onto rocks and the sea.

She was also exposed to dangerously high temperatures in direct sunlight.

RSPCA inspector Mike Pugh visited the site and got grass to the stranded sheep, before notifying the farmer who provided hay and water.

Fortunately, the RSPCA was able to rescue the lamb, placing her into a bag and lifting her back to safety, before being returned to her near-by mother. The rescue took place last Wednesday (2 June).

A five-strong team of RSPCA officers completed the rescue, with inspectors Mark Roberts, Nayman Dunderdale, Rachael Davies and Andrew Broadbent joined inspector Pugh at the scene.

Following the rescue, Inspector Pugh said: "This poor lamb was horribly stranded on a cliff ledge and unable to get herself back to safety.

"As we got a rescue group together, I got the lamb some grass - and notified the farmer, who also got vital sustenance to the stranded animal. The poor young sheep was being pecked by nesting shag birds every time she moved.

"We were later able to reach the lamb, by abseiling to her and pulling her back using a pulley system to safe land. I waited at the bottom in case she fell into the sea - but thankfully it was a highly successful rescue.

"Fortunately, despite her ordeal, the young sheep had no injuries and we were able to reunite this lucky lamb with her mother.

"What was really nice is that - after we rescued the lamb and were packing up our equipment - she popped back over to see us. Perhaps she was saying thank you!"

Farmer Arwyn Owen, who owns the lamb, added: "I’m very grateful to the RSPCA for completing this rescue. The lamb is alive and well despite the very challenging situation we thought we were in, and is back with the mother."