England mascot Leo the Lion pictured being put in the back of a van after Roy Hodgson’s side crash out of the Euros

HE was one of the enduring features of England’s spectacularly bad Euro 2016 campaign and much like failed manager Roy Hodgson, it seemed team mascot Leo the Lion had been put out to pasture.

But Leo suffered a fate worse than that – being carried by Joe Hart. We’re surprised the goalkeeper didn’t drop him.

The stuffed toy, who followed England players everywhere and even had his own security pass, has now been pictured being hastily stuffed in the back of a van after the humiliating 2-1 defeat to Iceland.

We fear for his future.

Nearly every member of the squad took a turn in carrying Leo around.

He was present in the team hotel, during training sessions and even in the dressing room before matches.

But like Roy Hodgson, he failed to inspire the players to beat minnows Iceland, a country with a population the size of Leicester.

England crashed out of Euro 2016 on Monday night after the most embarrassing defeat in tournament history.

Wayne Rooney had put England into the lead with an early penalty but Iceland struck back almost immediately – predictably from a long throw.

Moments after Joe Hart committed his second major error of the tournament to allow Kolbeinn Sigthorsson to put Iceland in the lead.

Although they huffed and puffed, England never really created a decent chance to equalise.

Roy Hodgson, in his pre-prepared statement, immediately quit his post.

More misery for English fans.