Police end the search for a “lion” reported to be roaming loose near Clacton in Essex after finding no evidence, such as footprints, to confirm its existence.
Residents were told to stay indoors as search teams worked throughout the night to track down the large cat after a member of the public phoned police on Sunday night claiming that they had seen a lion in St Osyth, near Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex.
After they were sent a photograph purporting to be of the animal, Essex Police called wildlife experts at Colchester Zoo in an attempt to help them track it down.
Two police helicopters using heat-seeking equipment were involved in the hunt for the animal, while zoo workers said to be armed with tranquilliser guns joined armed officers.
But after finding no trace of the animal, and no further sightings, the search was called off today. A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “We believe what was seen was either a large domestic cat or a wildcat.”
She added: “Extensive searches have been carried out, areas examined and witnesses spoken to, yet nothing has been found to suggest that a lion was in the area.
“We would like to thank the local community and holidaymakers for their patience and support throughout the past 24 hours as the police and media presence would have been somewhat overwhelming for them.”
The big cat was reportedly seen in fields off Earls Hall Drive in St Osyth, near Clacton, Essex, just before 7pm on Sunday.
Police immediately issued a warning to residents to stay inside their homes as officers began a search near where the animal was spotted.
An Essex police spokesman said between two and six people claimed to have seen the big cat but there had been no further sightings since yesterday.
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 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 a field and wood just behind our fence, so you never know.”
Police are trying to establish where the lion may have come from and have urged anyone who sees it to call 999.
A force spokeswoman confirmed the animal had not escaped from Colchester Zoo, as all its animals had been accounted for.
The police spokeswoman added: “We are investigating where the lion may have came from but it is fairly safe to say that it did not escape from Colchester Zoo.”
A spoof Twitter account, @EssexLion has been set up and has more than 21,000 followers.
I’M A LION, INNIT THO
— Essex Lion (@EssexLion) August 26, 2012