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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.
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. 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.
Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted. 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."
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. 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.
She also said one reported sighting had turned out to be a cat. Mr Tropeano, who has been at the scene, said: "We weren't really sure what we were looking for.
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. They are looking for signs such as pawprints. "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."
Officers also told the BBC experts from Colchester Zoo would use some kind of tranquiliser if the lion was spotted.
Caravan parks
The BBC's Tim Reid, in Essex, said the photo of the lion, which was taken on a long-range camera, had been taken by someone staying in a caravan at Earls Hall Farm.
Residents were initially told to stay indoors after the sighting.
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."
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'
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 dangerAre 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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