An escapee emu has been spotted on the loose off a country road.

Duggie was spotted in a field off Iwade Road, near Sittingbourne around 7.45am this morning by a driver heading to Newington.

Officers were called just after 7.50am and attended the scene where the bird was recovered by its owners and returned to a local property.

The flightless bird belongs to the nearby Happy Pants Ranch, a sanctuary for more than 400 unwanted and abandoned animals.

The owner of the charity Amey James said “its a bit of a mystrey” how Duggie got out of the Ranch.

She told KentOnline: “I am not sure how he got out and found out by getting a call that he was wandering outside the ranch.

“I was telling passers by that I was taking him for a walk and teaching him the highway code.

“The police officer that came was realy lovely and walked with Duggie back to the ranch. He’s really tame unless he is stressed out.”

It's not the first time the Aussie native has escaped.

In January Amey had to ditch her Wetherspoons curry when the seven-year-old was spotted on the run.

He had run through a fence after panels were blown down by strong winds.

The escape saw Amey receive a fine of £100 from Swale council which she called a “big blow” to her finances.