A BADGER has been captured by security cameras trying to grab a last-minute bargain.

Cameras traced the early morning visitor past shop windows in the Wellington Square shopping centre, Stockton, and filmed it peering through the window of the H&M store.

The visitor was tracked by security officer Steph Atkins, who said: "I first spotted him in a car park to the rear of the shopping centre, close to Choices video store.

"He had a wander around the security offices and the service ramps, then made his way past the Lidl food store, past the ATM machines and towards Monsoon.

"He then trotted over to H&M's window and got up on his back legs, with his front paws resting on the window ledge. He was there for a good minute or so.

"He then wandered along to the High Street and towards the road when a double-decker bus went past - it must have given him such a fright. He darted back the way he came with his little legs sprinting. I struggled to keep up with him.

"He ran straight past the KFC car park and out of the sight of the cameras."

Operations manager Colin Smith contacted Cleveland Badger Group after last Friday's events, which said it was a highly unusual sighting of what appeared to be a healthy young adult.

Andy Barker, of the Badger Trust, said the animal might have been disturbed from hibernation and looking for food.

"He could also have been on the prowl for new territory having recently left its sett," he said.