A rhea caused quite a stir in the village of Repton, Derbyshire, when it was spotted running down Main Street on a Sunday afternoon. The large flightless bird surprised driver Robert Jay and his wife as it suddenly appeared in front of their car.

Robert Jay, a window cleaner in the village, captured the moment on video, which he later shared on social media with the caption: ‘That’s the biggest chicken I’ve ever seen.’ Speaking to the BBC, he expressed his surprise at the encounter, initially mistaking the rhea for an emu.

The rhea had escaped from a farm in Repton after a gate was left open, according to a local farmer. Fortunately, the bird was safely reunited with its owner and received a clean bill of health after being examined by veterinarians.

This unusual incident left residents of Repton amused and garnered attention on social media. The unexpected encounter with the runaway rhea added a touch of excitement to an otherwise ordinary day.