Rescued squirrel is man's constant companion

A squirrel rescued by a kebab shop owner in East Sussex celebrated his birthday on Monday.

Hailsham businessman Mehmet Onal rescued an injured baby squirrel four years ago and nursed it back to health, but when he went to set it free, it kept trying to follow him home - so now Alvin is Mehmet's constant companion.

The pair have been best friends ever since and they celebrated with an acorn cake.

Mr Onal said: "People say, oh it's amazing, oh can I stroke him, what's his name? Can I take a picture? Which makes my day."

Mehmet found the baby squirrel with a broken leg in a churchyard. When animal rescue couldn't help, Mehmet decided to nurse him back to health himself.

When Alvin was well again, Mehmet took him back to the churchyard to set him free, but the baby squirrel refused to leave him. The pair are now a familiar sight in the town.

"Alvin changed my life," he added. "I always say, I didn't I rescue him, he rescued me."

He added that he believed Alvin was a "gift from God" and he was "told to look after him".

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.