Six-foot birds are running amok in the Shropshire countryside attacking people. The rheas, which are a relative of the emu, are believed to have escaped from farmland in Ashford Carbonell near Ludlow.

A a group of them has set up camp in a field near Richards Castle.

Nigel Hall, chairman of Richards Castle Parish Council, said one resident was attacked by one of them.

Mr Hall, from Overton, near Richards Castle, said: “It is an ongoing problem. There are five of those creatures.

“People lead you to believe that they are nice, friendly creatures but they are between 5ft and 6ft tall when they are fully grown and they will bite you and kick.

“One of the small ones got into our field while we were away on holiday and it could not get back through the hedge. It got stuck and we found it dead several days later.

“These things are breeding and escaping, there is one living in the strawberry field just off the A49.”

Mr Hall believes the birds belong to local farmer Tom Evans. Mr Evans said today: “I don’t know what’s going on with them, there is one especially that can jump and escape.

“They have been here for about eight years but the hounds scared them off. I will go and try to fetch them today.”

Resident Cath Mantle said she was attacked.

She said that although the birds did not bite her, one ran at her protecting its young.

Chris Edwards, of Shropshire Council, said anyone with concerns can call 0345 678 9006.