THE emu at the centre of today's drama was spotted a few weeks ago by a golfer, but no-one believed him when he told fellow golfers.

Simon Daniel, resort general manager of Brynmeadows Golf Club said though by Friday the bird had been seen by several people and so they began to take it seriously.

Mr Daniel said the emu was spotted sitting on the 11th, the first and then the 9th tee and kept disappearing into surrounding woodland and bushes.

"On Sat morning it re-appeared, and it seemed quite tame people and people fed it but it disappeared on Saturday afternoon.

"On Sunday, the bird came close to the clubhouse, so we called the RSPCA, but I don't think they took us us seriously."

The RSPCA sent out an emu expert who managed to get hold of the bird, but it was too strong escaped her grip. "The bird became distressed" Mr Daniel said, "so she left to turn up with reinforcements today."

Business is carrying on as normal at the golf club today with golfers playing around the bird.

Mr Daniel said there was lots of birdy banter going on at the club with lots of pictures of Rod Hull and Emu being put up on lockers and walls in the clubhouse.

But he admitted there was some concern for the creature's welfare, "there are foxes in area, but hopefully it's big enough to hold its own."

He said he had "no idea" where the bird came from and that "somebody must know its missing it's not like losing a hamster."