Back home - Bandit is reunited with the Dewhurst family

Ten-year-old Bandit was being moved to a new enclosure at his home in Ruthin when he slipped away.

He was found on the roof of a garden shed in Buckley - 15 miles away from his home - and captured by the RSPCA.

Bandit has now been reunited with his owner, who said she was "amazed he got as far as he did".

When he was first captured, Bandit was taken to Chester Zoo, and then Reaseheath College in Cheshire, which trains students to become zoo workers.

His owner, Diana Dewhurst, came forward to claim him after reading reports of a raccoon being found.

She was able to prove Bandit's identity from his microchip.

She said: "He will have had quite a journey over the Clwydian range of hills and some very busy roads to cross.

Bandit quickly settled down and was a perfect guest Richard Champion, Reaseheath animal centre

"I never doubted that he would be ok, because raccoons can survive easily in the wild, but I was concerned that he might be harmed by people who mistook him for a dangerous animal.

"He's actually a very sweet animal who enjoys having his ears tickled, but he can be naughty too - he'll pinch the children's toys and tease our cats.

"His best friends at home are a hen called Sarah, Teddy the cat and a puppy called Basil."

Head of Reaseheath's animal centre, Richard Champion, said: "We have a close partnership with the RSPCA and occasionally receive exotic animals from them, provided they fit in with our own collection.