A FAMILY has welcomed an unlikely new pet into their home...

The friendly red fox has been spending every night curled up on the sofa for the past four months.

The surprise visitor – who lets himself into the conservatory of the Balina family home, near Canvey Lake, Canvey – even responds to the name Mr Fox.

Cristina Balina, 39, said her family have become so fond of the wild animal they now consider him as their pet.

She said: “He has been coming here a long time.

“I noticed there was hair on the sofa but just thought it was the cats so I cleaned it up.

“Then I looked at the window one morning and saw the fox on the sofa.

“I wasn’t surprised to see a fox as we often see them, but it was a surprise to see him on the sofa.”

The conservatory doesn’t have a door, meaning Mr Fox can wander in and out as he pleases.

Mrs Balina, who is mum to Roberto, 13, and 14-year-old Diego, said: “I leave my trainers out there and he doesn’t touch them.

“I even put them next to where he sits but he didn’t eat them.

“He is happy for me to talk to him and if I open the windows he looks up, but if I start to walk into the room he runs off.

“I like to talk to him – he is the only thing that listens to me.”

She added that Mr Fox recognised her voice, and will look up when she calls him.

Mrs Balina only feeds him occasionally as she doesn’t want him to become too used to being fed.

She said: “I thought he would eat everything but he is very particular about what he eats.

“I gave him some meat and potatoes and he ate the meat but left the potatoes.”

She added: “We would be devastated if he ever stopped coming.”