[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Hey, I said it was dark...

These things happen, Grav...

'Escaped crocodile' was inflatable toy, police discover

Police officers called out to a report of a suspected escaped crocodile in Plymouth discovered the "animal" was an inflatable toy.

A woman called for help after she saw the 3ft (1m) imitation reptile in her garden at Cundy Close at 12:20 BST.

She asked two neighbours for assistance but called emergency services after they agreed it was too dangerous to approach the creature unarmed.

Police snapped into gear arriving with snare poles, nets and riot shields.

Devon and Cornwall Police also alerted a team of wildlife experts from Dartmoor Zoo to help.

The officers threw water over the "crocodile" from a safe distance and gingerly approached when it did not move. It was only then, on closer inspection, they realised it was harmless.

Despite warnings to never smile at a crocodile, they were left grinning as they removed the toy from the garden and placed it in police custody.

While the police response was scaled back, Dartmoor Zoo team was stood down.

BBC News Devon