A bird of prey found hanging upside-down from a tree over the River Don has been rescued by the Scottish SPCA.

The buzzard was dangling from fishing line which was hooked through one of its feet.

Three fishermen clambered 90ft down the riverbank to rescue the bird in the Stoneywood area of Aberdeen on Monday.

They used a tree lopper to cut the branch and Scottish SPCA staff caught the buzzard in a net.

Animal rescue officer Claire McGillivary said: "This certainly wasn't an easy job and the fishermen bravely went into the water up to their waists.

"One of them had tree loppers and we had to bend the branch down towards us and cut it so that the bird would land in my net.

"There were five different fishing lines attached to its feet and one had been caught through its talon.

"I don't believe the buzzard was hanging there for too long but because it was very windy, it was swinging around which could have easily caused dislocation of the leg."

She added: "The bird was taken to a local vets to have the fishing line removed and thankfully there wasn't much damage.

"The gentlemen who assisted me were absolutely amazing and a great help - I can't thank them enough."

Fisherman Martin Roberts said: "We were all very pleased with this outcome and it was great to see the bird fully recovered being released back into its natural habitat."