The terrified muntjac, a small species of deer, was first spotted wading in the dirty water at around 2pm on Tuesday and firecrews were quickly on the scene to begin their unusual rescue mission.

More than 60 passers-by stopped to watch firefighters and RSPCA officers struggle to catch the muntjac using a dinghy, ladders, ropes and a net as it darted around, hiding in the reeds.

The muntjac, nicknamed Jeffrey by staff watching from the Lynn News offices in Limes House, was eventually caught by RSPCA's Craig Plumley at around 3.45pm, more than two-and-a-half hours after the alarm was raised.

It was wrapped in a blanket, lifted out of the boat and carried up the ladders in a cage, before being whisked away for a medical check.

HAPPY ENDING

Speaking after the rescue, Mr Plumley, an animal collection officer (ACO) with the flood rescue team said: "The muntjac is very wet and exhausted, but doesn't seem to have any injuries. We will hospitalise it and eventually release it – it's a really happy ending.

"This is probably one of the hardest and the most dangerous rescues of a deer we have dealt with. They are never simple, but this one was definitely more difficult than usual."

Suprisingly, the RSPCA believes there are a number of muntjac living in Lynn town centre and they are already a familiar sight for some eagle-eyed residents.

Onlooker Simon Drewery (21), who lives in The Maltings, often sees muntjac wandering around the Baker Lane car park and eating out of bins when he returns home from work in the early hours of the morning, usually between 2am and 3am.

It is not known how the muntjac ended up in the water or how long it had been there.