IT could have been a scene from Hollywood blockbuster Babe: Pig In the City.

In the film, enterprising talking hog Babe heads to the big city and has a whirlwind adventure.

Now life has imitated art – with Southampton’s very own audacious piglet found wandering around a housing estate.

The intrepid porker was picked up in Porlock Road, Maybush, following a call to police. Having been rounded up in one of a resident’s garden, an officer from the RSPCA was able to catch the pig – now named Olive – and take her to safety at animal shelter Stubbington Ark, near Fareham.

Apart from being initially a little shaken following her city adventure, Olive is now thriving in the safety of a stable at the centre.

But staff there believe she could be a runaway pet.

Her breed, kunekune, is popular with animal-owners because they do not grow as large as other breeds.

They are also friendly, with a placid nature.

Animal welfare officer Mike Standen said: “When you compare them to a typical large white, they’re significantly smaller and people tend to have them as pets. The way Olive reacted to handling makes us think she’s somebody’s pet or has been in the past.

“But like any animal, give them the option and they’ll wander off, just because it’s more interesting – the grass is always greener on the other side.

“She’s very lucky to be in one piece. Dogs could have attacked her, and there’s always the concern of traffic.”

However, there is a chance that Olive, thought to be around four months old, could have been abandoned by her owners.

Mike added: “It’s always a possibility that someone has chucked her out because they can’t look after her.

“Pigs make good pets if you have got the right facilities – but there’s a lack of knowledge about how to keep them properly.”

It is not the first time pigs have been found wandering the streets of Southampton.

In January this year, four Vietnamese potbellies were caught in Coxford.

• Anyone with information about who Olive belongs to should contact Stubbington Ark on 01329 667541 or email enquiries@rspca-solent.org.uk.