A red panda thought to have escaped from a zoo was rescued by puzzled police officers and staff after it was spotted wandering close to a fruit and vegetable market.

The endangered animal was discovered in Newquay, Cornwall after reportedly fleeing Newquay Zoo.

Rachel Craze of Freshpoint said her members of staff rounded up the animal - which had travelled about a mile until police officers arrived and kept the red panda contained until zoo staff arrived.

“I knew straight away it was a red panda - I’d seen them at the zoo - and in a Disney movie I think,” Ms Craze said. “My staff recognised it wasn’t a cat and they made a barricade to stop it running any further down the road.