The animals which went walkabout in Sunderland and Durham - from a lion to a flamingo

The answer is they all made the headlines after going walkabout in Sunderland and Durham.

When a lion went roaming

Join us as we look at animals we have put in the spotlight.

It was 49 years ago when Jason the lion club enjoyed a wander after jumping from his cage at Seaburn Zoo.

He enjoyed a few hours of freedom as well as a beef bone.

Then, he was safely returned to his home after being tranquilised.

Flamingo on the loose

That very same month, this flamingo made the headlines. It attracted a few glances when it turned up at the Boldon Colliery pond in February 1975.

Tell us if you remember seeing it.

Santa's reindeer took a stroll round Sunderland

In 2010, shocked onlookers thought Santa had arrived early when they saw a reindeer running through Sunderland city centre.

Gnu the reindeer had escaped from Mowbray Park’s Lapland Village after being panicked by a dog.

He was one of the herd at the park as part of Sunderland City Council’s programme of festive events. One eye-witness said she was at a Christmas party at Frankie and Bennys when it ran past her and towards a nearby casino with people trying to catch it.

Who's a naughty boy then

In 2011, Feathers the parrot proved a real handful by getting his whole street in a bit of a flap.

The pretty boy flew off from owner Margaret Smedley’s home, landing on the roof of a nearby house in Peterlee.

Margaret, along with her neighbours, then spent the afternoon trying to coax the bird back down, even offering him his favourite snack - dog biscuits.

But when Feathers ignored all pleas, firefighters were called in and Feathers was rescued when he hopped on to the shoulder of one of the crew.

A snake in your shower

Let's move forward to 2017.

Computing teacher Gary Morrissey, 34, was stunned when a snake slithered out of the bath overflow while he took a shower.

The computer science teacher, from Sulgrave, Washington, panicked as the 14-inch creature made itself at home.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a non-poisonous corn snake - not that Gary knew that at the time.

In January this year, father and son Wesley and Torin Fagan were shocked to spot a raccoon while out in Sunderland.

The pair were in the car near the Ford Football Hub near Pennywell when they saw the unlikely sight.

Tell us about the walkabout animals that you remember in the news.

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