A hedgehog which was rescued from a storm tank during a site investigation has recovered enough to be released in the new year.

South West Water (SWW) said colleagues Joe Martin and George Cane discovered the hedgehog, which they named Aquarius, in November after the animal managed to climb the safety railing and get inside the empty tank at Blackawton, near Dartmouth, Devon.

The pair created a makeshift transport carrier out of a cardboard box and dry vegetation before driving Aquarius to a hedgehog rescue centre in Stoke Fleming.

SWW said Aquarius would be released once he was fully recovered but in the meantime would spend Christmas snuggled up in his favourite Christmas hat.

Joe Martin, recovery and treatment area manager for wastewater services, said: “I was walking the site as part of routine checks when I spotted a small ball of spikes down in the tank.

“Thankfully the storm tank was empty despite the recent rain.”

He said they improvised by using a telescopic sampling pole, a bucket and a hoe to scoop Aquarius to safety.

Aquarius was taken to Prickles in a Pickle, which cares for up to 200 hedgehogs at a time.

Alan Pook and his partner Judy Thomson run the charity from their home.

Ms Thomson said: “When Aquarius arrived he was very cold, thin, dehydrated and wobbly. He weighed just 260g (0.6lbs).

She added: “Thanks to Joe and George’s quick thinking, he’s now doing really well.

“He’s doubled his weight to 540g (1.2lbs). He has a poorly hind leg that’s improving and some internal parasites we’re treating, so he’ll be staying with us over Christmas.”

She added Aquarius had reunited with Joe Martin and George Cane because they wanted to check on his recovery.

“They’ve grown attached to the little chap and couldn’t believe how much he’d grown,” she said.

“Aquarius might not have survived Christmas, but thanks to these two, he will be happily fattening himself up even more.”

SWW said it had now made the tank “extra secure” to stop any future hedgehogs trying to get in.

“It’s made our Christmas knowing Aquarius is on the mend,” added Mr Martin said.

“He’s a tough little character, but let’s hope he’s less ‘adventurous’ in the future!”