Police hunt for lion on the loose in Essex

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Police hunt for lion on the loose in Essex

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The big cat was seen in fields off Earls Hall Drive in St Osyth, near Clacton, Essex.

27 August,2012 02:31 pm

Residents were told to stay indoors as search teams worked throughout the night to track down the large cat, which was spotted in a field by a member of the public. Essex Police have enlisted the help of experts from Colchester Zoo who believe the sighting to be genuine after viewing a photograph of the animal taken by a local.Two police helicopters using heat-seeking equipment have been involved in the hunt for the animal, while zoo workers said to be armed with tranquilliser guns have also joined armed officers.The big cat was seen in fields off Earls Hall Drive in St Osyth, near Clacton, Essex, just before 7pm yesterday.Police immediately issued a warning to residents to stay inside their homes as officers began a search near where the animal was spotted.Che Kevlin said he heard what he believed to be a roar whilst out walking his dog last night.“I heard a loud roar at 10pm. It sounded like a lion,” he told the BBC.“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 a field and wood just behind our fence, so you never know.”A force spokeswoman confirmed the animal had not escaped from Colchester Zoo, as all its animals had been accounted for.The Great British Circus was based at Clacton Airfield but its run in the area ended around a fortnight ago, according to a local events website.