A POT-bellied pig called Charlotte has been causing a bit of a stir in her village.

The unusual pet recently escaped from her owner's house and roamed around a few gardens before a neighbour raised the alarmbrought her back.

But owner Mary Bonner says that escapades aside, Charlotte is an ideal pet, and gets on like a house on fire with her two daughters Georgia, eight, and Chelsea, seven - not to mention her dog Buddy and cat Flossy.

"She is a nice pet. If you rub her stomach, she'll stretch her legs out," said Mrs Bonner, of Greenmere, Brightwell- cum-Sotwell, who answered a plea for a new home for Charlotte in a newspaper three years ago.

"We kept her in the house when she was smaller but she is too big now so we have put her in the garden.

"The neighbours haven't really said anything about her.

"They used to bring raw vegetables round for her but she only eats cooked ones. She's a bit fussy.

"But I've always wanted to have a pot-bellied pig. I think they are so sweet."

Charlotte, who eats special nuts for pot-bellied pigs, took full advantage when a fence post fell down and made off around the houses of Greenmere, before a neighbour spotted her.

"It was the first time she has escaped since the first night we had her," said Mrs Bonner.

"We had to get a rope and walk her back home then. But a rotten banana usually does the trick."

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