Missing ostrich-like bird on the loose in Worksop poses a threat to the public

Anyone who spots the rhea, a tall flightless bird native to South America, is urged to call 999 immediately.

The animal is thought to have gone missing from Carlton-in-Lindrick, near Worksop between Monday evening and midday on Tuesday.

Police said this morning there have been no confirmed sightings of it since.

Inspector Paul Peatfield, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are warning local people and particularly those with small children to be on their guard and not to approach the bird, which poses a very real threat to the public due to its size, aggressive nature and the unfamiliar surroundings it could find itself in.

“Officers are working with the owner to trace the bird as we look to bring his incident to a safe conclusion.”

Anyone who sees the bird should call 999, quoting incident number 601 of Tuesday, June 23.