There’s a raccoon up my tree

Imagine the surprise of Ena Webber from Christchurch, Dorset.

She thought she saw a cat in a tree in her back garden so, being a keen bird watcher, she crept up on the beastie intending to give it both barrels from her water pistol.

Imagine her surprise, then, when she realised it was a... raccoon.

She said: ‘At first I thought it was a cat; then I realised it was a raccoon. It was about 10 feet up the tree. The only time I'd ever seen raccoons before was in a zoo but I knew exactly what it was.

‘He didn't seem a bit bothered by my presence and looked as if he just wanted to go back to sleep.’

The RSPCA were called and put the animal in a cat box. He or she is now apparently being cared for by said organisation.