Rescuers deflate football-sized swollen hedgehog

The female hedgehog, which has been named Bounce, had blown up to twice its normal size when it was seen in Gloucestershire.

It was taken to the charity Wild Hogs Hedgehog Rescue and diagnosed with balloon syndrome, where air gets into a gap between the skin and the creature’s muscular-skeletal structure.

The charity’s manager, Emily Harper, said: “The hedgehog was spotted by a man on the bus in a field.

The outside skin heals over and the infection is trapped inside, releasing gases which cause the hedgehog to balloon.

Sometimes balloon syndrome can be caused by punctured lung or emphysema but these were ruled out on the X-ray.”

The charity hopes Bounce will make a full recovery and be returned to the wild.