Hedgehog found on train taken in by rail employee as sanctuary full

Flaminia LuckBBC News, South East
News imageSouth Western Railway Lost hedgehog hiding under train seatSouth Western Railway
The hedgehog, now called Hector, was discovered on the 12:33 service from Weybridge to London Waterloo

A hedgehog found hiding under the seat of a train is being cared for by a rail worker after there was no room at a sanctuary, a train company said.

The hog, now named Hector, was discovered on a train travelling from Weybridge, Surrey, to London Waterloo on 11 December.

An employee took Hector home as there was "no room at the sanctuary inn this Christmas," South Western Railway said.

He is being cared for by the man and his daughter in their back garden.

It is hoped Hector will eventually go to an animal shelter when space becomes available.

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The SWR worker who first dealt with Hector said he was walking through the train when a customer pointed out the animal.

The worker, named Jack, said: "My first thought was 'Is it real?' and then it moved!"

"I was a bit perplexed by how it had got there, so I contacted control, who were also surprised about it."

He said staff then met him at Waterloo, where they took Hector away in a box.

He added it was "definitely not something I've encountered before!"

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