"Aggressive" missing rhea found safe and well

An "aggressive" rhea which went missing from his Nottinghamshire home, prompting a search by armed police, has been found "safe and well".

The ostrich-like bird disappeared from a private collection in Carlton-in-Lindrick on Monday or Tuesday.

There were unconfirmed sightings of the 6ft (1.82m) tall, flightless bird in South Yorkshire, but Nottinghamshire Police said it was found in Hodsock.

"It seems to be no worse off for its adventures," a police spokesman said.

Earlier in the week, police warned the public to steer clear of the rhea and asked people to call 999 if they spotted him.

The rhea's owner, Alex Macdonald, said the male bird was aggressive as he had recently fathered a cluster of eggs.

"It's the male that does the sitting on the eggs with these - either that or ours is just odd, because that's what he does."

He said the bird was powerful and four men were often needed to wrestle him to the ground when he had to be moved.

In a statement, Inspector Alan Easdon of Nottinghamshire Police said: "We would like to thank the public for their help and support in rallying round to help us locate the bird and reunite it safely with its owner."

He said police were called to Hodsock Priory Farm, about four miles from the rhea's home, on Friday morning.