RSPCA officer Vic Hurr said she first approached the "lizard" with caution, not knowing if it was a dangerous breed.

But when she shone her torch around the room, she soon found the sock poking up from the edge of the bed before breaking the news to the "mortified" family.

Ms Hurr said: "It was around seven inches long and about two inches wide. It was protruding from the edge of the bed and it wasn't moving at all.

"As it wasn't very light, I got out my torch to see better and that's when I realised it wasn't a lizard at all - it was a pink stripy sock.

"I advised the young girl whose bedroom it was to tidy her room and to take care of her socks, but not before reminding her that another one will turn up soon as they are usually in pairs"