IT may be just two inches long but a tiny exotic tree frog caused a big stir when it arrived in a container at a tile warehouse.

The slimy stowaway was found by warehouse staff at Euxton Tiles Supplies in Euxton, Chorley.

It had travelled for two weeks inside the 20ft container of ceramic tiles from Brazil to Lancashire via the port of Hull.

Although it was slow moving when staff found it, it was soon hopping around in a box, before an RSPCA collection officer picked it up.

Warehouse worker Adrian Rourke, who spotted the frog, said: "It was just sat there looking at me when I opened up the crate. I picked it up and put it in a box. It had done pretty well, after being at sea for two weeks and after a while it was walking around in the box.

"We have seen all sorts of things here in containers, like spiders, cockroaches and locusts, but this frog caused a lot of excitement.

"Everyone came to have a look at it and they were all scared of it, because they thought it was poisonous. It's silly really the amount of fuss for just a little frog."

RSPCA animal collection officer Greg Billington, who picked the frog up, advised staff to wash their hands if they had handled it.

Although he hadn't been able to identify its species yet, he was able to confirm it was an exotic tree frog.

It is currently looking for a permanent home.

RSPCA inspector Kath Mayberry, one of two exotic animal inspectors in the north west, said it was always safe to take precautions when handling an exotic animal. "It is highly unlikely that a frog found in this way is going to be dangerous but I would always urge people to be cautious."

The incident comes only a month after a frog was found inside a pack of bananas in Preston, after travelling from a banana plantation in Surinam, South America.

The charity advises anyone finding such a creature should leave it in the packaging or a jar or box and kept in a warm place.

They should then ring the RSPCA 24-hour contact number on 0870 5555999.