A ferret rescued by the Macclesfield branch of the RSPCA is to be put to sleep after being found dumped in wheelie bin.

The albino ferret was found in a "terrible state" on Sunday by an Abbey Road resident who then took the bin into his shed to keep it sheltered until a branch volunteer could collect it the following day.

Carmen Cole, the RSPCA volunteer who collected the female ferret, told Nub News: "We don't know exactly how it happened, but it's probably going to be one of two things; it's either that she's either gone missing from her previous owner or she's been dumped.

"She could have been straying for a while, hence the fact she was covered in ticks and fleas or she was just been badly neglected and then dumped."

Ms Cole said it would be unlikely the ferret would have gotten into the wheelie bin herself due to the height.

"Thank god they did see her, a lot of people throw their rubbish in the bin without looking inside," Ms Cole added.

The ferret had been taken to a local vet to for treatment of a 7cm long mass on her abdomen, but was described as "weak and anaemic".

In an update this afternoon, Ms Cole told Nub News: "Her blood results are 9.9% which is dangerous, she has no regenerative cells and she is too weak in terms of blood to move forward with any operations."

She added: "I'm absolutely gutted, I so wanted the best for her but at least she was rescued and given everything she needed in terms of care, attention and veterinary care. So the decision is to let her go."

To find out more about the important work of Macclesfield's RSPCA branch, you can visit their website.

To report cases of animal cruelty or animals in need of rescue please call our national RSPCA helpline on 0300 1234 999.