AN EIGHT-year-old girl from Yate was given the birthday surprise she wanted most of all after her escaped hamster returned home after being missing for six days.

Maisie Deane’s hamster, six-month-old Diego, had gone missing while rolling around in his exercise ball, eventually breaking free, and despite the family searching high and low for him, turning the house upside down, he had vanished without a trace, not to be seen for six days.

But on January 21, the eighth birthday of Ridge Junior School pupil Maisie, the podgy hamster, who is named after both a character from children’s TV show Dora the Explorer and Chelsea footballer Diego Costa, was found by family friends who had dropped by the house with a present.

Having bent down to put the present by the front door, she spotted what she thought was a rat, jumping back in horror, but on closer inspection, realised it was the runaway pet happily minding his own business in a plant pot.

“He was a bit sleepy when we brought him in, but he was as right as rain, sniffing around, as if he was recognising familiar smells,” said Maisie’s mum Charlene Deane.

“He didn’t look scruffy or unwell but was clearly comforted to be back in the warm, especially when we gave him his favourite treat pumpkin seeds.

“Before he went missing, he always had a habit of escaping, but he’s happy to stay in his cage now. He used to head straight for the door, but now he’s right at home in his bed.”