A goldfish found on a flooded soccer pitch has been reunited with its owner.

Carlisle United officials found it swimming in the penalty area and christened it Billy the Fish, after the legendary Viz character.

Ashleigh Turk, four, solved the mystery yesterday, revealing "Billy" is Judy.

Judy was in her bowl in the hallway of the Turk family home in Brunton Crescent, Carlisle, when it was filled with water 8ft deep.

Judy swam free and was washed through the open front door and swam 500 yards into Carlisle's Brunton Park. She was found there by Emma Story, 23, the daughter of Carlisle chairman Fred.

Ashleigh's mother, Jenny Elliot, 25, recognised the distinctive black spot on Judy's tail when the club publicised the rescue of the fish in a bid to find the owner.

But after becoming the club's unofficial mascot, Ms Elliot and her partner Mike Turk, who are living in a caravan in the driveway of their home, said Judy can stay. In return, Carlisle will buy Ashleigh a new fish and bowl.

Ms Elliot, an ambulance worker, said: "It's incredible that she has turned up. When the floods came, our home was wrecked and we certainly never expected to see her again."