Drivers spot wallaby near Brussels ring in Anderlecht

A wallaby was spotted by several drivers in Anderlecht, near the Brussels ring, in the early hours of Saturday morning - and has now been found and taken into care.

"It was just before 3.00 in the morning," one witness, Gabriel, told RTL. "I was at Anderlecht and saw the animal in the distance. I slowed down as he came towards me and sounded my horn."

A federal police spokesman said another witness had called police at 2.30 with a similar sighting.

A week ago, a Spanish restaurant in Dilbeek reported its pet wallaby missing - but management say the wallaby has safely returned home and the animal spotted in Anderlecht is not theirs.

Non-profit association L'Arche, which runs a shelter for exotic animals, said in a Facebook post that the wallaby had been successfully rescued and was now in their care. "We welcome a new resident," the organisation said. "A big thank you to the police in Brussels for this rescue."

It's not the first marsupial sighting on a Belgian road. A bus driver spotted a wallaby near Libramont a year ago, who was also being kept as a pet and had escaped.