A GIANT bird that escaped from a house in Culcheth has been reunited with its owner.

Police had warned drivers and residents to be on the look out for the 5ft adult female rhea after it broke free from a house on Holcroft Lane last night.

The bird, which looks similar to an ostrich or emu, with white feathers and big claws, was spotted in a nearby field to where it went missing by a member of the public who contacted police.

A police spokesman said: "The missing bird has been found safe and well.

“It was caught by its owner at 3.30pm.”

The rhea, which was described by its owner as non–aggressive, did not cause any damage during its escapade.