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Plucky turkey saved from the chop - after being spotted on housing estate

Tommy the Turkey made a successful dash for freedom when he bolted from his captors at a local farm and made his way to the suburban street in Worcester.

Bid for freedom: Tommy the turkey was spared after being spotted on a housing estate (SWNS)

A plucky turkey has escaped the chop this Christmas - after fleeing a farm and being spotted running around a housing estate.

Tommy the Turkey made a successful dash for freedom when he bolted from his captors at a local farm and made his way to the suburban street in Worcester.

Stunned residents were left scratching their heads when they saw Tommy strutting around their driveways and front gardens last week.

It is thought that the feathered fugitive had escaped from a local turkey farm - just in time to avoid its usual festive fate.

And after being rescued by RSPCA inspectors Tommy has now been saved from the dinner plate and will now spend Christmas at a bird sanctuary.

Lyn Hughes, 62, captured pictures of the bird enjoying his freedom on her front drive after first discovering Tommy hiding in a bush.

Lynn told how a young boy called at her home on Chelmsford Drive to ask "have you seen a turkey walking around the estate?"

She initially dismissed the doorknock as a prank and shut the door - but when she saw the worried lad outside she went out to investigate.

Retired Lyn said: "I asked him where the turkey was, he said it was behind a bush and took me to where it was.

"All I could see was these black feathers and all of a sudden he reared up and emerged from the bush.

"Imagine the shock when he ran out in front of me and started strutting around.

"The young lad stayed out there for hours while he was waiting for someone to come out.

"He was clearly upset at the thought of the turkey being out all night and said a fox would probably get it.

"At one point he even tried to catch it and put it in his own garden.

"I told him he had done everything he possibly could for the turkey and that he deserved a medal for his efforts.

The RSPCA were called to the street on November 28 and managed to catch Tommy before taking him to a nearby animal sanctuary.

A charity spokesperson said the bird had been taken to the vet and checked over but they did not know where it came from.

"An inspector and and animal collection agent arrived and took the bird to an animal rescue centre nearby.

"At this time of year a lot of people who wouldn't normally do so farm turkeys on an ad-hoc basis.

"Perhaps a local farmer had been keeping them in a spare field and this one managed to escape.

"If their wings aren't clipped properly they can easily get over a fence and make a run for it.

"So it's likely that it's a farm turkey but we won't ever know for certain."