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Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Police in St Osyth earlier today.
# essex lion
Essex lion search called off
Police say that despite extensive searches, no trace of the reported loose large cat have been found.
POLICE IN ENGLAND have called off their search for the ‘Essex lion’ after finding no evidence of a big cat in the area.
Local residents were advised to stay indoors and a major search for the animal was launched after a member of the public reported seeing a lion sitting in a field in the St Oysth area just before 7pm on Sunday.
A police helicopter searched through the night using thermal imaging equipment in an effort to locate the animal.
However, Essex Police said this afternoon on Twitter that the search was being called off:
A police spokesperson said that despite extensive searches in the area, “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,” they added.
Anyone seen the #EssexLion? Reports send Twitter into frenzy >
