Hamster survives Scottish blizzard

A homeless hamster in Scotland defied the odds to somehow survive a recent blizzard in the country, despite being forced to seek refuge on the streets of Edinburgh.

It is not known how the female hamster ended up lost in the capital city, just as snow and sleet battered it earlier this week.

Scottish SCPA officers have named the hamster Poppy and explained she is "very lucky" to have been rescued by a passer-by who quickly realised she was in danger.

The charity's Duncan Robinson said: "Hamsters are fast creatures and can wriggle through small spaces so there is a chance she has escaped from home. However, we are keeping an open mind at this stage."

Poppy is approximately one year old and was spotted on a pathway on a city centre street during the worst of the blizzard.

However, she is now recovering well in the hands of the experts who work for the animal charity.