Jailbird: Police detain an escaped emu

AN ESCAPED emu was detained by police after it was spotted walking through a town during rush-hour yesterday.

• The bird was found by police at 8am in Barnstaple, north Devon

• Before police arrived, the emu had been trying to get in to people’s houses

• It is currently being looked after by an animal refuge centre

Police were called to Barnstaple in north Devon after the 4ft bird was seen near a park.

A spokesman said: “Although the bird was in a state of panic, they managed to coax it into the rear of the police car and call the owner.”

Pc Parnell, who found the bird at around 8am yesterday, said that the emu was “running up and down the street, trying to get into people’s houses”.

She added: “When we first had the call from the public, I thought it was a bit of a wind-up.

“But when I arrived at the scene I could see this bird in the street. It was trying to get into people’s houses. Obviously it was finding that difficult, and would try the next one.

“I’ve been in the police force for seven years,and I must say this is one of the most bizarre incidents I have been called to. A few of my colleagues started cracking jokes about me ‘feeling peckish’.”

The bird is currently being looked after by an animal refuge centre.