On the hunt Man looking for Meeko tells of joy of raccoons

Saving animals pretty much saved my life," says Lain Jenkins, a raccoon rescuer whose semi-detached home in Hartlepool appears as ordinary as they come but is anything but. This is a house that Jenkins shares with raccoons, a parrot, and a friendly skunk - and previously a whole host of exotic animals, including a crocodile in the conservatory.

- Mark Brown

Jenkins's far-from-ordinary story is inextricably tied up with his mental health struggles.

"About 20 years ago because of sheer exhaustion and stress I had a nervous breakdown," he says.

"I basically ended up just sitting, staring at walls.

"Then I realized, do you know what, animals have always been a big part of my life, so I headed in that direction." Jenkins gave up a successful career in education and social care to devote himself to animal welfare, setting up the non-profit Raccoon Rescue UK. He is the go-to person if a raccoon or similar exotic animal is on the loose in the UK.