Search for suspected big cat is called off
The policing operation to find a suspected large cat in
north-east Essex has been called off.
Police had been contacted shortly before 7pm on Sunday, August
26 following a reported sighting of what holidaymakers described as
a lion sitting in a field off Earls Hall Drive in St Osyth.
Officers had spent Sunday night searching for any trace of an
animal and the operation continued on the morning of Monday, August
27. However, the force ended the search at 2pm on Monday after
finding no trace of any big cat.
A police spokesman said: "We believe what was seen on Sunday
evening was either a large domestic cat or a wildcat. 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.”
Public safety had remained at the forefront of the policing
operation, with the force advising people to once again return to
normal life.
