Goldfinch rescued by Met Police officers and RSPCA in Walthamstow. Image: @MPSWalthamForest and RSPCA

Police officers from Waltham Forest have assisted the RSPCA in investigating reports of protected birds being caged and sold illegally.

Officers located a ‘distressed’ goldfinch at an address in Walthamstow E17.

The bird was not ringed & officers suspected it was a wild bird illegally caught.

A 38-year-old man was cautioned after admitting the offence of keeping a wild bird.

The bird was taken to a wildlife centre to be rehabilitated & released into the wild.

The entire story was first revealed via social media on Twitter with the final message saying:

We are certainly pleased to be able to “TWEET” that great work by our officers & @RSPCA_official 😉

@MPSWForest messages on the case of the distressed goldfinch of E17

1/5 #WalthamForest wildlife officers have assisted @RSPCA_official following reports that protected birds were being kept and sold locally..

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Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) May 29, 2015

2/5 #WalthamForest & @RSPCA_official officers seized a distressed #goldfinch found caged in an address in #Walthamstow #E17..

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Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) May 29, 2015

3/5 The bird was not ringed & officers suspected it was a wild bird illegally caught. @RSPCA_official..

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Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) May 29, 2015

4/5 We & @RSPCA_official are pleased to say a 38-year-old man was cautioned after admitting the offence of keeping a wild bird...

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Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) May 29, 2015

5/5 The bird was taken to a wildlife centre to be rehabilitated & released into the wild #GreatWork @RSPCA_official http://t.co/tSgAHFApSH

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Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) May 29, 2015

We are certainly pleased to be able to "TWEET" that great work by our officers & @RSPCA_official 😉

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Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) May 29, 2015