A European Rhinoceros Beetle has been found in the North East after stowing away in a potted plant imported from Holland.
Retired civil servant Kay Willis, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, discovered the 2in (5cm) creature - not native to the UK - in the soil of a fruit tree bought at a supermarket. It survived the tree's plastic wrapping, the journey from Holland and being soaked in water before planting. "I named him George - George was my favourite Beatle," said Kay on Sunday.
"It crawled out after I soaked the tree, and I thought that I had drowned it. Maybe it was in the bark clippings."
