A mystery emu gave cyclists a shock by chasing them on their route through a Welsh village.

The large bird was spotted running around on the cycling path - but is baffling people about where it came from thousands of miles away from Australia.

One of the cyclists managed to capture the 4ft tall emu on film as they cycled through Upper Boat, near Cardiff.

One of the cyclists, Matt Penny, said: "They had met a dog owner who warned them there was an emu running around a bit further down.

"They thought he was playing a prank on him, so couldn't believe when they actually came across the bird."

Another member of the group travelling along the 55-mile Taff Trail greeted the rambling bird saying: "Emu! Hello, butt!"

One of the cyclists shouted: "Oh no, it is after us!", as the emu, which can reach speeds up to 30mph, began chasing them.

Emus are native to Australia but are commonly farmed in the UK, and can grow up to six feet tall.