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.

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 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.

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.

She also said one reported sighting had turned out to be a cat.

 

Donna Veasey of Essex Police says residents have been advised to stay indoors

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.

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.”

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.

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.

‘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.

“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.

“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.

BBC