THE macabre discovery of a ‘headless monkey’ in Northwich turned out to be nothing more sinister than a grey squirrel that had been hit by a car.

The RSPCA investigation was officially closed when vets confirmed that the animal was far from the exotic species first thought by police officers and the passer-by who spotted it.

RSPCA inspector Nadine Pengilly said: “It wasn’t a monkey, it was squirrel – it was a big fat squirrel that had been there 24 hours and started to bloat up.

“Vets have examined it and it’s definitely a squirrel.”

She said the commonly-found creature had injuries on its paws that would be consistent with it being hit by a car.

It was discovered by a member of the public near a railway footbridge by Danefield Road.

Police described the animal as a ‘small monkey with a black and white tail’ and logged the incident with the RSPCA, which advised them to put the body on ice until it could be properly investigated.

Animal rights campaigner Nicky Brookes said: “As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t matter what the victim was, it’s still horrendous.”

Readers on the Guardian website have been amused by the case of mistaken identity.

Blooper said: “I for one will sleep tonight in the knowledge that the Monkey Ripper isn't on the loose.”

And J Bear wrote: “Somebody been ‘monkeying about’ with a squirrel?”

Cheshire Police have not issued any further comments.