Ref. 71722-42VETS at Thameswood Small Animal Hospital are ferreting around trying to find a home for their new furry friend.

Nicknamed Frodo by practice nurses, the albino ferret was first seen in a road near the practice in Purton Road, Moredon, last Thursday by a member of the public.

Now staff at the practice are hoping to either find Frodo's owners or re-home him.

Felicity Webb, student veterinary nurse and resident ferret expert, said Frodo is a tame, friendly animal who would make a good pet. She said: "He is fit and well with no medical problems at all.

"We're waiting for an owner to come forward and claim him. He's clearly a well looked after pet, so someone must be missing him. If no-one comes forward, we'll then think about re-homing him."

After the tip-off from the member of the public, vet staff found Frodo, who is thought to be about five years old, scurrying around in Lynwood Grove, Moredon, and a nurse was sent to catch him.

After trying to evade capture, he was eventually caught and ever since has taken up residence in a dog kennel at the practice.

Ms Webb said: "Ferrets can make great pets. As long as they're handled at an early age and tamed, they're lovely.

"They can be a bit smelly though, so it's best to keep them outdoors.

"You can also have lots of fun with them.

"They usually exercise themselves, but if you do want to, you can buy leads and harnesses for them to take them out for walks, although that's not commonly done."

If you have lost a ferret or would consider re-homing Frodo, please call Thameswood Small Animal Hospital on 01793 526780.

Ferret factfile

A group of ferrets is called a "business" of ferrets

Ferrets can grow up to 40cm (16in) long

Most are sweet-tempered in nature. A biting ferret usually indicates poor handling in earlier life

They require frequent exercise in order to remain healthy ideally twice a day or more

The average ferret lives between five and seven years

Ferrets sleep around 18 hours a day and need at least four hours per day out of their cage

The domestic ferret is believed to have been derived from the European polecat

Domestic ferrets cannot survive in the wild

A female ferret is called a jill while a male is called a hob

Ferret litters can range from one to 16

They require bathing approximately once a month in winter and every other week in summer