Gardeners will look at these pictures and want to squash this not-so-little critter or, if they’re feeling kindly, drown it in beer – what a way to die! – whereas when I found this slug, I thought ‘Wo, what a wonderful looking creature you are!’

Having been a gardener and lost many a cherished seedling to the ravages of my slug’s cousins, I can certainly sympathise with their need to destroy all slugs.

And, perhaps if I still had a garden, I might have been tempted. But even then, I don’t know. I mean it’s just so cute.

Look at that pretty orange-and-black-striped skirt! Look at that dimpled brow!

And when it began to poke out its little tendrils / eyes and waved them at me, I was lost.

This is probably Arion rufus, commonly known as the Red slug, the Large red slug, the Chocolate arion or the European red slug.