Workers in Marlow town centre were given a shock earlier as an escaped South American rainforest creature joined them in a popular lunch spot.

These pictures of the runaway coati – fast becoming a Marlow celebrity - were captured by Ben Whitehouse of creative agency Twogether in the May Balfour Gardens off Institute Road.

The runaway creature, which escaped from the McAlpine estate in Fawley Hill, now seems to be venturing further into the town centre, after previously sticking close to the river.

Twogether workers earlier tweeted: “Spotted the Coati this afternoon. We last saw it up a tree with the owners close behind.”

Yesterday, the coati – a member of the raccoon family – was seen by Jill Hickey in her Station Road garden, despite claims an animal fitting its decription was lying dead by the side of a busy road.