There have been reports of a stray skunk roaming north London.

Video footage shared online appears to show the black and white animal crawling near a bus stop in Muswell Hill.

The RSPCA has confirmed that the creature captured is “definitely a skunk” but added the charity itself has not received any calls about this incident.

One eyewitness who saw the skunk in the area told The Sun she “lost it” after first mistaking it for a cat.

RSPCA scientific officer Evie Button said: “The RSPCA has dealt with a number of call-outs to stray pet skunks in recent years that have either escaped or been deliberately released to the wild.

“It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) to release these animals, or allow them to escape, into the wild because they are not a native species to the UK.”

The scientific officer warned that people have “little idea” of how difficult these animals are as pets and that the novelty wears off when it resides in their home.

She continued: “Pet skunks are essentially wild animals being kept in captivity but their welfare needs are no different to the needs of skunks living in the wild.

“As we don’t believe their needs can be met in a typical household environment, we feel that skunks shouldn’t be kept as pets.”

Skunks are native to North and Central America. While the wild animals are sometimes traded as pets in the UK, it remains a fairly unusual sight in Muswell Hill.

Anyone who sees the stray skunk is asked to report it by calling the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.