A woman from Norwich has pleaded with a gas firm to rethink its operational practices after several hedgehogs have become trapped and died in open worksites. 

Vicki Ellen, from NR2, came to the rescue of one of the animals which had fallen into a 4ft-deep hole at a Cadent Gas site in Pembroke Road last week. 

The area, while encircled by orange safety barriers, had been left unattended for more than two weeks according to Vicki who spent half an hour waiting on Cadent's helpline after finding the distressed hedgehog.

Norwich Evening News: A hedgehog became trapped in an open worksite in Pembroke RoadA hedgehog became trapped in an open worksite in Pembroke Road (Image: Vicki Ellen)

"I was on hold for another hour after that," said Vicki. 

"Eventually myself and others sought out Cadent staff working in the area who attended the site but sadly the hedgehog had died."

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Vicki was spurred into action after reading reports by neighbours on social media about a similar incident happening in Avenue Road.

Norwich Evening News: Vicki alerted a member of staff who worked to retrieve the trapped animalVicki alerted a member of staff who worked to retrieve the trapped animal (Image: Vicki Ellen)

"Hedgehogs in our area are trying to make a comeback under extremely challenging circumstances," Vicki said. "But they can't cope because of these hazards."

Following the incident last Friday (November 10), Vicki reached out to Cadent to question its practice of leaving worksites open, especially while work is not under way.

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A manager informed her that holes "cannot feasibly be covered", despite the risk to wildlife, and staff do not check unattended worksites, instead relying on members of the public to inform them of any animals in need of rescue. 

Norwich Evening News: Vicki has called for Cadent to cover worksites when work is not under wayVicki has called for Cadent to cover worksites when work is not under way (Image: Vicki Ellen)

Vicki added: "I have been doing this every day or so since but the holes are now filling with leaves and rubbish, making it hard for us to spot animals who have fallen in."

A Cadent spokesman said: "We'd like to thank Ms Ellen for drawing this issue to our attention and we are taking a look into what we can do to protect animals that find themselves in our excavations.

"We are also investigating the use of devices such as hedgehog ramps that could be used in areas where these types of incidents are frequent."