The animal was cornered by the dog catcher and gardeners in a town park and released into the wild.

It had evaded capture days earlier when police officers chased it for more than an hour in the town's railway station.

And days later it had dodged officers by plunging into the River Skerne to make its escape.

John Martin, Darlington Council's dog warden, was called out after someone spotted the deer nestling in bushes near the town hall.

Mr Martin said: "When we tried to catch him he started jumping over car bonnets before he jumped into the River Skerne.

"He got out at Victoria Embankment, where he went behind the cricket ground and curled up.

"We left him there because it is near South Park and we were hoping he'd find his way back out to the countryside."

However, a few days later the park manager contacted Mr Martin, concerned that the deer would damage the rose garden or be harmed by youths and the animal was eventually captured.

Mr Martin said: "I grabbed its antlers, the guys grabbed its legs and we put it in the van where it settled down. I have never seen a deer close up before, they are really beautiful."

The deer was released behind Stressholme Golf Club, in Snipe Lane.