Escaped ostrich 'frightens town' (a rhea if the BBC bothers to read its own report)
An ostrich which keeps escaping from its owner has been scaring people in a cemetery and in allotments, a council says.
The 6ft (1.83m) South American rhea was found in a graveyard in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, several times eating flowers.
Lostwithiel Town Council and mayor Robert Peareth said it had been causing a lot of concern in the area.
Owner Sue Carter, 61, said she knew the bird had caused some problems, but that it was not dangerous.
Local officials said it needed to be stopped because "it is just frightening the life out of people," according to town clerk Linda Austen.
She said: "Some find it quite friendly but some are nervous of it.
"We have spoken to the owner but if that does not have the desired effect we will have to look to see if there is anything else that can be done."
The bird was christened Edgar, after 75-year-old Edgar Walkham befriended it at the cemetery.
He said: "I was tending to a grave and I felt something looking at me. I turned around to see the ostrich.
"It struck me as being funny because you don't expect to see an ostrich in a graveyard."
But other residents are not on such good terms.
'Hell of a fuss'
Mayor Robert Peareth said: "The bird has been causing a lot of concern in the town.
"I will be speaking to its owner so that they take steps to ensure it doesn't get out again."
Sue Carter admitted that the bird had created "one hell of a fuss" and she had had many phone calls about it.
She said she offered to replace some flowers at the cemetery after complaints.
She said the rhea was just very curious and not really dangerous.
Story from BBC NEWS:
BBC NEWS | England | Cornwall | Escaped ostrich 'frightens town'
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