posted 09-14-2002 01:07 PM            

Reuters

LONDON (Sept. 8) - British detectives are investigating the mystery of a hamster found driving a toy racing car along a promenade at a northern seaside resort, newspapers said on Saturday.

The hamster, nicknamed Speedy, was handed in by a member of the public who found him cruising through Cleveleys, near Blackpool in the modified toy, which he powered by a treadmill.

''It is a model hotrod racing car with large wheels at the back and small ones at the front,'' the Daily Express quoted Constable Quentin Allen as saying.

''In the center is a typical hamster wheel you can buy at any pet shop... As the hamster went round and round it powered the car along at high speed.''

Officers removed Speedy from the car after he made several escape attempts from their front desk, and they took him to a nearby animal sanctuary. Detectives are appealing for the owner to come forward.