Leefro
08-26-2012, 11:25 PM
Police in Essex are investigating reports that a lion has been spotted in a field near St Osyth.
Residents have been advised to stay indoors after the sighting in fields off Earls Hall Drive around 19:00 BST.
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: "I heard a loud roar at 10pm. It sounded like the roar of a lion."
Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted.
Police said all the animals at Colchester Zoo had been accounted for.
Asked about the possibility of the lion having escaped from a travelling circus, an Essex police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating where it may have came from but it is fairly safe to say that it did not escape from Colchester Zoo."
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.
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.
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.
"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."
Police are asking anyone who sees the animal to call 999.
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
Residents have been advised to stay indoors after the sighting in fields off Earls Hall Drive around 19:00 BST.
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: "I heard a loud roar at 10pm. It sounded like the roar of a lion."
Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted.
Police said all the animals at Colchester Zoo had been accounted for.
Asked about the possibility of the lion having escaped from a travelling circus, an Essex police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating where it may have came from but it is fairly safe to say that it did not escape from Colchester Zoo."
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.
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.
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.
"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."
Police are asking anyone who sees the animal to call 999.
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