Famous Freckleton ferret dies after 'last adventure' saw him hitchhike 10 miles away

Hobnob, who was aged around 10, was put to sleep on Tuesday after suffering kidney failure, but not before one last hurrah.

For Hobnob, owned by student vetinary nurse Annie Cottier, decided to go on one last adventure that surprised all his neighbours.

When flooding caused damage to Annie’s fence and outdoor hutch in mid-August, Hobnob escaped.

“Ferrets tend to be awake at 5am or 6am so I was up then, squeaking toys, looking for him", she said.

But with no joy, Annie put up posters around Freckleton, made Facebook posts and asked her veterinary surgeon auntie to keep a look out.

Annie said: “Quite a lot of people who lose ferrets never get them back. Usually in the house they will get under floorboards or in laundry baskets, or even go into neighbour’s sheds, but if you haven’t got them back in a few days, it’s not good. The day I messaged my auntie, I really thought he was probably dead.”

But to the astonishment of everyone, Hobnob was found 10 miles away in Elswick in a bizarre twist of fate.

She said: “He was found in a man’s kitchen, eating dog food. The man used to have ferrets, so wasn’t worried, but went to the pub later on, telling people about this ferret that had freaked his dogs out.”

By the strangest of coincidences, the conversation was overheard by a woman who knew Annie’s aunt, and was aware of the search for Hobnob. Within hours, he was returned home.

Annie said: “We have no idea how he got 10 miles away, but he was found the next day and there’s no way he would have been able to walk that far.

"It took us 20 minutes in a car. I have a theory that he hitchhiked in a car and had one last adventure. I wish he could have told me all about it.

"We were very lucky to get him back and so grateful to the people of Freckleton who helped search for him. There must have been 300 to 400 people looking for him.

"He ended up being quite well-known. He was a very cheeky ferret with no fear who loved running and jumping and playing with my son."