An MP was shocked to find an unexpected visitor rooting through their Parliamentary office today.

Former minister George Freeman posted pictures on social media of a fox skulking around under a desk, and even standing on a shelf. 

The Tory MP said his staff made sure the animal was 'watered and relaxed' before it was 'escorted off the premises by animal experts'.

'Said fox is now safely released and roaming around the Victoria Tower Gardens area,' he added. 

Rodents are a routine sight at Westminster, with those who work on the labyrinthine estate accustomed to finding mice skittering over desks.

The Parliamentary authorities typically spend more than £100,000 a year on pest control.   

However, a fox turning up inside the buildings is unusual, with insiders stressing it was an 'isolated' incident. 

Despite pleas from MPs, cats and dogs are not allowed to roam around for fear they will get trapped.

Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who lives on the premises, is an animal lover and has kept a variety of pets including cats, a parrot and a tortoise.

Mr Freeman told the Daily Mail: 'My Parliamentary Caseworker went in this morning before 9am and heard a noise and found the poor little thing staring out from the stationery cupboard.

'We gave it a bowl of water and called the House authorities who sent a pest control team... they said ''this is a first'' and removed it calmly from my office.' 

A Commons spokeswoman said: 'We received a report of a fox sighting in Portcullis House this morning. The animal was safely escorted off the estate by the relevant teams.

'We work hard to keep Parliament safe for both the members of the public that visit and for the staff and parliamentarians that work here. 

'Where issues are identified we act quickly to address them and minimise disruption as much as possible.'