Burglars steal emu in wheelie bin

The emu was taken from an outdoor enclosure at the farm

An emu has been stolen from an animal centre by burglars who then hid it in a wheelie bin to make their getaway.

Volunteers at Lords House Farm in the Rishton area of Blackburn, Lancashire, said they fear the emu will have died.

Burglars took the bird from the farm, which offers riding and animal therapy, then hid it in a bin stolen from a neighbouring property.

Lancashire police said the bin was pushed for almost a mile, before being abandoned and the emu taken.

The theft happened overnight on Wednesday at the farm, which works with adults and children with special needs.

'Angry mate'

Kathryn Thacker, volunteer and activity co-ordinator at Lords House Farm, said that emus are strong and "would have put up a struggle".

She added: "We suspect the stress of its ordeal - which included being stuffed in to a neighbouring farm's wheelie bin and dragged across Great Harwood - will probably have killed the bird.

"But we are now left with its very angry and distressed mate. We are now worried that the remaining bird might die from stress."

Lancashire police said that the bin was dumped near a disused railway bridge and would have been pushed across a main road.

They are urging witnesses to contact them.