A NOISE like a screaming seagull brought residents rushing onto a town centre street.

But instead of a bird in distress on Chepstow’s Bridge Street, they found a young wild deer with its head stuck in railings.

Thankfully, a quick call to a local vets brought rescue to the male muntjac, which had wandered off its own beaten track from surrounding woodland, and got into difficulties when it apparently tried to feed off a bush.

People were alerted to its plight when they heard “an almighty noise”.

Jan Howells-Jones, who runs the nearby Ty’r Castell B&B with husband Dr Glyn Jones said: “I thought it was a seagull – it was making such a high-pitched scream. The noise was incredible.”

She joined neighbours and some builders in trying to calm the frifhtened deer down by putting a jacket over its head before calling Marlow Vets.

The animal experts dound the muntjac “frantic and panicking”, said veterinary surgeon Caroline Marlow.

“We sedated it, got it out and back to the vets, where we checked it over and treated it for shock and superficial injuries.”

Having been give the all clear, the deer was released back ionto the wqoods at Piercefield Park, where it scampered off.

“It’s just as well somebody saw it and thought to ring the vets as soon as possible,” Mrs Marlow said. “It made a big change from our usual patients, but we always like the challenge of seeing wildlife.”

“We’ve even got vets qualified to treat marine mammals – but we’re unlikely to see any of those here.”