A fearless ferret had a miracle escape after dodging traffic and trains on a four mile adventure across town.

Little Anchor escaped from his home in Woodland Avenue, Burgess Hill, last Saturday (March 15).

He was eventually found sleeping in a pile of hay inside a stable block at West End Farm, off The Brooks, following a plea for help on Facebook.

Owner, Natasha Furminger, said it was the first time the adventurous pet had escaped the garden.

The 17-year-old said: “He's never done anything like this before. I went out and I think he must have been following the scent of my perfume. However, after crossing the train tracks he must have lost it and carried on his own way.

“He's unhurt which is incredible. He's still very tired though. He's sleeping all the time I would have been a big journey for him.”

Anchor, who is just nine-months-old, escaped into the neighbour's garden on March 15.

Miss Furminger went over in the afternoon to fetch and return him to his cage.

But Anchor was not done exploring and broke out the wire cage after his owner left went out.

After discovering him missing the following morning, she took to Facebook and the Burgess Hill Uncovered page to plea for help.

Various sightings followed and the teen spent the day calling out his name across the town.

She said: “Someone messaged me to say they had seen him in the graveyard at St Andrews Church. I went over there and was searching for two hours but couldn't find him.

“I gave up but then got a phone call from someone who said they had found him in their stables.

“I went round the following morning and he was there resting with the horses.

“He was lucky really, he must have crossed the train track and plenty of roads. He was unhurt but very tired, he was just curled up in a ball.”

She added: “When I found out he was OK I could have cried.

“They are really loving pets, provided you train them. Some people have them for hunting but I don't believe in that.

“I'm so grateful for all the help.”