FLOYD the albino ferret was back with the youngsters of Pendle Martial Arts Club this week after his brief flight from home.

Owner Ray Stokes, who founded the club, travelled to the RSPCA offices in Preston to pick up his prized pet after Floyd went missing from Ray's Brierfield home.

Ray, whose 22-year-old son John is an instructor at the club, is convinced that someone stole Floyd from his back yard.

The ferret ended up on the other side of the town and was eventually captured by teacher Bill Harris after his wife Jean and 16-year-old daughter Donna spotted him running across Clitheroe Road. Floyd was cornered in the family's garage in Chatburn Park Drive after biting Bill on both feet.

But Ray said Floyd was normally a friendly ferret and he is a regular attender at club meetings.

"I use him to show that you don't have to be big to look after yourself," explained Ray.

"A rabbit is much bigger and stronger than a ferret but the ferret always comes out on top."

Floyd returned home none the worse for his adventure apart from a raging appetite.

"He's been eating non-stop since he got back," said Ray. "He's starving."

On Tuesday, Floyd was back with his friends at the club meeting. The group trains every Tuesday and Thursday night at Mansfield High School, Brierfield, and is open to anyone aged between four-and-a-half years to adults.

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