Four firefighters spent over an hour trying to locate April, who disappeared down the toilet in the family home in Orwell Close, Millbrook.

The errant rodent was finally saved after rods were used to prod him through the pipes and into a drain outside the house.

The chipmunk was recovered wet but unhurt and returned to its owners.

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters were called to Orwell Close to rescue a chipmunk who had disappeared down a domestic toilet.

"The chipmunk was safely rescued from the drainage system by the firefighters.

The chipmunk, April, was wet but well."