Global warming latest - meerkat found in Wales (with video)

"We put some nuts out for it so it came in and we captured it in a box. I think it's only a baby."

Unsure of what to do next, and at a loss as to where the meerkat came from, Jackie and her husband Keith phoned animal rescue centres, a vet, the Welsh Mountain Zoo and Chester Zoo - but no one believed their story.

She added: "I think they thought it was some kind of joke. They said they thought it was more likely to be a ferret.

"In the end I let it go in the conservatory and took some photos of it to send to them - they all phoned back saying it was definitely a meerkat!"

Jackie fed Monica, as she named the meerkat, with mice supplied by a neighbour who keeps snakes after taking advice from Chester Zoo.

Meerkats normally dine on insects, spiders and even, on occasions, small birds but the furry mammal seemed happy to tuck into its breakfast mice.

The couple also made the meerkat a hutch to sleep in and gave it a teddy for company.

Jackie added: "We've had it sitting on our laps and it followed me around everywhere - I think it thinks I'm it's mum."

Chester Zoo came to the meerkat's - and Jackie's - rescue on Wednesday when it collected Monica.

Spokesperson Rachel Ashton said the zoo was happy to help out and kept Monica in quarantine overnight before she was returned to her owner. The zoo declined to name the owner or say where they were from.

RSPCA spokesperson Sophie Corless said: "This was a strange and unusual incident."