An emu named Farage caused quite a stir in an Essex village yesterday after it escaped from its home in the snowy weather.
Startled residents in Tollesbury, near Maldon, were shocked to see the bird running loose as they prepared for a day in the snow.
Jasmine Emson and Harriet Balcombe managed to take photographs capturing the drama as it unfolded.
“It was just madness,” said Miss Emson.
“The emu is well known in Tollesbury, it’s called Farage and lives next to the church.
“We were all preparing to go out in the snow and suddenly I saw it run past me, we were all a bit shocked it had got out.
“Everyone knows the emu but it was fine, just running loose.
“I heard that a man managed to track it down in the graveyard and bring it back.”
Ms Balcombe reassured her Twitter followers that Farage was safely herded home.
She tweeted: “Tollesbury’s resident emu (yes, emu) got out this morning and has now been safely herded home.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here