Bread used to capture 6ft birds

A trail of bread was used to lure a flock of 6ft birds, which had been running wild in the Shropshire countryside, back to their enclosure.

The rheas, which are a relative of the emu, are believed to have escaped from farmland in Ashford Carbonell near Ludlow and a gang of them set up camp in a field near Richards Castle.

But Nigel Hall, chairman of Richards Castle Parish Council, said today the birds had now disappeared from the field neighbouring his land.

Mr Hall, from Overton near Richards Castle, said he thought the birds belonged to farmer Tom Evans.

He added: "There was an arrangement made. The fence was opened up and a trail of bread was laid. The birds went back off into the woods near Mr Evans's land."

The group of about five rheas, which appeared to consist of a dominant male and a small white chick, had been in the field for some time.