A driver was left questioning whether he was still in Bishop Auckland or had ended up in Brisbane when what appeared to be a wallaby hopped out in front of his car.
The suspected marsupial was spotted on Saturday (August 8) night by Gary Weatherston and his 18-year-old nephew Ryan, in Bishop Auckland.
The pair were driving on Canney Hill just before 10 pm when it hopped in front of the car and across the road.
Gary, 56, a member of The Northern Echo's Camera Club, said: "I’d just picked my nephew up from work and then we saw something in the road.
"I had to swerve a bit, and I clocked straight away what it was.
"My nephew said, 'What was that? Was that a mini kangaroo?'
"It was all over in a second, and it must have hopped into the allotments, but it’s just not what you expect to see."
Gary, a support worker, said he tried to find reports of a missing wallaby when he got home but couldn’t find anything online.
He reported the sighting to the Wildlife Trust and UK Wallaby Sightings. group.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "Our advice to people who spot a wallaby in the wild is to watch from afar, enjoy the unusual sight and don’t try to approach them.
"Sightings should be reported to UK Wallaby Sightings, and iRecord for non-native species.
"Most people may be unaware that wallabies are considered established in the wild in Britain, as a result of escaping from captivity, although they are not a native species to the UK.
"Some people also keep them in private collections, so it’s possible this wallaby is lost or has escaped from a private property.
"Anyone who finds an injured wallaby in need of help should monitor the animal from a distance and call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999."
Read more
Remains of six neglected dogs found in Chilton couple's home with 'smell of death'
Protest over plans for poultry factory with capacity for 2.7 million chickens a year
Family pay tribute to 'deeply caring' dad who died after North East 'street attack'
The sighting comes months after an eight-month-old wallaby escaped from a farm in Consett.
The animal named Wally escaped from SCNE - At the Farm in Leadgate on May 31, which his owners said was due to him being spooked by a member of the public who climbed into the area where the animal was staying.
After four days on the run, Wally was safely rescued and returned to his home.