Police called to deal with 'crocodile' apprehend blow-up toy

  • Animals
Police threw water over the 'crocodile' before realising it was a toy. Credit: Ronald Wittek

A terrified mother called police and wildlife experts to her garden after seeing what she thought was an escaped crocodile - only to discover it was a blow-up toy.

The Plymouth woman spotted the 3ft reptile and immediately asked neighbours for help, before calling the authorities to deal with the apparent danger.

Officers arrived with a team from Dartmoor Zoo armed with snare poles, nets and riot shields.

At first the officers threw water at the curiously stationary croc, before realising what they were really dealing with.

The home-owner, who asked not to be named, said she was "absolutely mortified" when she realised her mistake.

A tongue-in-cheek police spokesman added: ""We received a call from a concerned member of the public reporting that an escaped crocodile was in their garden.

"Police officers attended and bravely investigated. The beast turned out to be an inflatable toy crocodile. Police have apprehended the crocodile."