ANIMAL sanctuary All Creatures Great and Small now boasts its very own emu - after being contacted by a retired couple in Hemel Hempstead and asked if it could help them re-home their bird, Cilla.

Emus originate from Australia, stand up to two metres tall and are able to run at up to 50kmph.

The sanctuary, at Church Farm, Llanfrechfa, already has a large number of permanent residents, as well as many waiting to be re-homed, but was glad to help out.

Viv Harris, the sanctuary's owner, said Cilla arrived just over a week ago. The couple contacted the sanctuary after reading about it on the Internet.

Ms Harris said: "We know she is at least 23 years old because she lived with her previous owners for that time. But we don't know how old she was when she moved in with them."

Ms Harris said Cilla had lived an isolated life on the three-acre smallholding of her previous owners, who aremoving to Spain.

Cilla, she added, is settling in well. She said: "She's just started to eat out of the hand."

l All Creatures Great and Small can be contacted on 01633 866144 or at www. allcreaturesgreatandsmall.org.uk Or via its charity shop in Chapel Street, Pontnewydd.