Marlborough's missing wallaby was spotted at 7.30am today by Jane East, 46, while she was drinking coffee on the back deck of her canal boat.

It apparently escaped from a paddock near Marlborough on Wednesday night and has been on the run ever since.

Ms East, who spent a year in Australia in 1993, saw the wallaby on the towpath between Wilcot and Bridge Water while having breakfast.

She said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. I knew what it was because I’d spent time in Australia so I know it wasn’t a kangaroo.

“I went to put my dog inside and came back out to take a photo and then it was gone.

“I came into work and asked ‘is there supposed to be wallabies in this part of the country’?”

The runaway wallaby had last been seen bounding towards Pewsey on Friday when James Laughton, 55, of Granham Hill, was walking his Thai golden retriever Captain and two Springer spaniels near the old railway line south of the A345.

Mr Laughton said: “We all saw it 100 metres away. I thought, this is a damn clever deer walking on its back legs.

“And then I realised what it was. By that time, Captain had pulled away, he’s a strong dog. He got through the fence into the field and gave chase. It was surprisingly fast.

“I think if Captain wasn’t on the lead he would have caught it.”

The wallaby was first spotted in a quiet housing estate in Marlborough late on Wednesday.

Police who went out said there was a wallaby hopping along at 15mph towards the A4 London Road.

In warm weather wallabies are understood to remain still, probably in shade, and despite the owner’s search efforts it has not been found.

Anyone with information should call 01225 773638 or email news@newswilts.co.uk

Police said they are not taking any action at this time but would like people to let them know of any sightings by calling 101.