This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19388301#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Essex Police investigate 'lion' sighting near St Osyth | Essex Police investigate 'lion' sighting near St Osyth |
(about 3 hours 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 have told residents to enjoy the bank holiday but "be cautious" - are looking for signs after the sighting off Earls Hall Drive. | Police - who have told residents to enjoy the bank holiday but "be cautious" - are looking for signs after the sighting off Earls Hall Drive. |
Colchester Zoo experts have said a definite identification of the animal was not possible based on a photograph taken by a member of the public. | |
Local resident Che Kevlin told the BBC he heard a "loud roar" at 22:00 BST. | Local resident Che Kevlin told the BBC he heard a "loud roar" at 22:00 BST. |
Anthony Tropeano, Zoological Director of Colchester Zoo, said: "The photograph shows an animal in a field, it is a sandy brown colour, but the photography is of such poor quality it's not possible for us to say one way or the other what it definitely is." | |
Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted. One of the helicopters is using a thermal imaging camera to try to detect any trace of an animal. | |
Mr Tropeano, who has been at the scene, said: "We weren't really sure what we were looking for. | |
"There were absolutely no sightings of it during the time I was there. Nothing really to provide any further evidence to suggest it had been there - just the fact of these couple of eye witness account and police had to err on the side of caution." | |
Residents were advised by police on Sunday night to stay indoors, but now people have been told they should enjoy the bank holiday. | |
"It's a beautiful day so we want people to go out and enjoy themselves, but if they do wish to go for a country walk and use the fields and footpaths we ask them to be a bit cautious," a police spokesman said. | |
Essex Police said about 25 officers were at the scene, including about a dozen specialist firearms officers, and experts from Colchester Zoo were also on hand. They are looking for signs such as pawprints. | |
'Quite worried' | |
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." |
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." | |
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. |
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. | 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. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |