Hello, police? There's an ostrich in our garden

Police were called to round up the loose Rhea, which had also been walking through people’s gardens on Wednesday.

Inspector Mark Chamberlain, of Wakefield Central Police, said: “It’s a strange one. It was hiding out of the way of the sunshine. It was in the shade at the side of the road.

“You don’t often get that on Horbury Road. When it was seen there was actually some people with it, a woman and a child.

“Maybe they were trying to recover it or take it for a walk?”

The RSPCA were also called to help with the round up and confirmed that it was a Rhea, which are native to South America and related to both the Ostrich and Emu family.

The flightless birds can grow up to nearly six foot, and spread their wings when they run.

In South America, they are a common source of meat for many people.

Insp Chamberlain said that the bird came from a small farm in Horbury and has now been returned.