ALTHOUGH it looks like a snowball, this is actually the latest arrival at an animal rescue centre in Essex.

ALTHOUGH it looks like a snowball, this is actually the latest arrival at an animal rescue centre in Essex.

Frosty the albino hedgehog was brought in to Wildlives Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre earlier this week and the six week old orphan is too small to hibernate.

Centre manager Rosie Catford said Frosty - a one in 50,000 freak of nature - would never be allowed to return to the wild as with his bright white prickles he would be too visible to predators.

She said: “He's not very old at all. He only weighs about 150 grams so he needs to be a lot bigger. He needs fat reserves to see him through until March or April so he needs to be around 600 grams.

“He's the first one (albino) we have had in this year but he really has got bright red eyes - he's incredibly cute.”

She said Frosty would probably be sent off to an enclosed garden to join an injured female hedgehog that was recently re-homed there and is also unable to return to the wild.

She said: “Little Frosty is going to go and join her when he's up to weight, weather permitting.”

Ms Catford said anyone who found a hedgehog that was underweight should get in touch with the centre as they would not be able to live through the hibernation process.

Anyone who finds an injured or underweight hedgehog can contact Rosie and her team on 01206 251174.