DRINKERS wandering out of a Southampton pub must have thought they were drunk as skunks when they saw an unusual animal crossing the street.

They might have expected to see a stray dog or cat – but they could not believe their eyes when the distinctive black and white striped creature walked in front of them.

The skunk was in fact a family pet who had temporarily escaped his home.

Janice and Chris Burgess bought Sparky for their autistic son Newton, 13, a year ago and the pair were inseparable.

But panic was sparked after he escaped through an open door and after a week on the loose the family had almost given up hope of seeing him again.

Remarkably, he was found yesterday near the former VT site in Woolston.

Dad Chris, 50, said: “We’re delighted to get him back. We had been driving round trying to find him but it seems he’d just been on a giant pub crawl around Woolston.

“We had four reports of people who had seen him at different pubs in the area but we’re over the moon to have him back.”

Janice, 48, said: “I think Sparky really helps Newton to deal with his condition. Because he was housebound for a long time he didn’t have any real social life and the skunk is his friend that he cares for a lot.”

Sparky was first spotted at The Yacht Tavern in Woolston.

Landlady Jacqui Gordon said: “It was spotted outside the pub by one of our barmaids.

“Our barman saw it on his way home from work on Sunday just round the corner from the pub, so maybe it was just thirsty.”

Sparky’s return hasn’t kicked up a stink at the Burgess house in Laurel Close, Woolston, as he had his scent glands removed before legislation came in forbidding the practice.