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| Essex Police investigate 'lion' sighting near St Osyth | Essex Police investigate 'lion' sighting near St Osyth |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police in Essex are investigating reports that a lion has been spotted in a field near St Osyth. | Police in Essex are investigating reports that a lion has been spotted in a field near St Osyth. |
| Police - who initially told residents to stay indoors after the sighting in fields off Earls Hall Drive - are looking for signs such as pawprints. | |
| Essex police are working with experts from Colchester Zoo who believe the reports to be genuine after being shown a photograph by a member of the public. | Essex police are working with experts from Colchester Zoo who believe the reports to be genuine after being shown a photograph by a member of the public. |
| Local resident Che Kevlin told the BBC he heard a "loud roar" at 22:00 BST. | |
| Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted. | Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted. |
| Asked whether the animal would be shot if it was found, spokeswoman Donna Veasey told the BBC officers had to consider the safety of the public at all times. | |
| Essex police say about 25 officers are on the scene, including around a dozen specialist firearms officers, and experts from Colchester zoo are also on hand. | Essex police say about 25 officers are on the scene, including around a dozen specialist firearms officers, and experts from Colchester zoo are also on hand. |
| A force spokesman said officers would be returning to areas where the animal had been spotted during daylight hours to look for signs it had been there. | |
| Police said all the animals at Colchester Zoo had been accounted for. | Police said all the animals at Colchester Zoo had been accounted for. |
| The spokesman said a circus had been in the area, at Clacton Airfield, recently but added: "Officers have spoken to the circus and confirmed that they do not have an animal missing, nor do they have any lions." | The spokesman said a circus had been in the area, at Clacton Airfield, recently but added: "Officers have spoken to the circus and confirmed that they do not have an animal missing, nor do they have any lions." |
| Caravan parks | Caravan parks |
| Mr Kevlin said that shortly after hearing the roaring sound he got a text from a relative telling him a lion was on the loose in St Osyth. | Mr Kevlin said that shortly after hearing the roaring sound he got a text from a relative telling him a lion was on the loose in St Osyth. |
| He said: "It was worrying as we had just been for a walk with the dog. We saw the police helicopter but thought it was just searching for a person. | He said: "It was worrying as we had just been for a walk with the dog. We saw the police helicopter but thought it was just searching for a person. |
| "It sounded like the roar of a lion. We have field and wood just behind our fence, so you never know," he added. | "It sounded like the roar of a lion. We have field and wood just behind our fence, so you never know," he added. |
| There are several holiday caravan parks in and around St Osyth and Sean Williams, who is in a caravan, said he was worried about going out. | There are several holiday caravan parks in and around St Osyth and Sean Williams, who is in a caravan, said he was worried about going out. |
| 'Worried' | 'Worried' |
| Mr Williams, who said he heard about the lion on Twitter, said: "The children are with me and we are quite worried. We were out in fields in St Osyth but we're back in the caravan now. | Mr Williams, who said he heard about the lion on Twitter, said: "The children are with me and we are quite worried. We were out in fields in St Osyth but we're back in the caravan now. |
| "We've only seen one police car bombing it down the road. We had a fishing trip planned for tomorrow but we're now debating whether to carry on." | "We've only seen one police car bombing it down the road. We had a fishing trip planned for tomorrow but we're now debating whether to carry on." |
| Dave Sparks, who runs the Red Lion pub in St Osyth, said it had been a "surreal" night and told ITV News: "You don't really expect to be told there's a lion wandering around the area. | Dave Sparks, who runs the Red Lion pub in St Osyth, said it had been a "surreal" night and told ITV News: "You don't really expect to be told there's a lion wandering around the area. |
| "No one really felt there was any immediate danger in the village - a couple of families with young children were a bit worried but after a while they were okay." | "No one really felt there was any immediate danger in the village - a couple of families with young children were a bit worried but after a while they were okay." |
| Police are asking anyone who sees the animal to call 999. | Police are asking anyone who sees the animal to call 999. |
| The news of a potential lion on the loose has captured the public imagination and three Twitter accounts - @EssexLion, @TheEssexLion and @Essex_Lion - were quickly set up. | |
| Are you in the area? Have you seen any unexpected animals in the area? Please get in touch but without putting yourself in any danger | Are you in the area? Have you seen any unexpected animals in the area? Please get in touch but without putting yourself in any danger |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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