Shoppers shocked as animal veers off the beaten track and gambols through city streets

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A deer was seen swimming and running through parts of Manchester on Thursday.

Sightings were reported from around noon as the deer was seen in a canal swimming past the Well Pharmacy head office in Castlefield – an inner city conservation area.

The female deer was also seen running down the busy Oxford Road.

Kate Erskine, from Manchester, told the Press Association the animal reached a dead end as it swam in the canal.

“People were trying to help but there wasn’t much that could be done. It got to a shallow point in the canal and managed to jump out before running towards Deansgate.”

She said it was worrying that the deer was heading towards the busy entertainment district. “Both the RSPCA and police were made aware,” she added.

Later on Thursday afternoon, the Greater Manchester police city centre Twitter account shared a photo of the deer heading into the seven-hectare Whitworth Park, accompanied by the caption: “Currently a deer in the City Centre first seen near the canal in Castlefield.

“CCTV asked for a description of the animal – ‘erm, it’s brown & a deer’ replied the officer.

“Last seen in this photo taken by a PCSO [police community support officer] heading into Whitworth Park. No i-deer where it is heading next.”

The RSPCA told the BBC: “We received a report from the police that a medium-sized female deer was in the canal in Manchester city centre this afternoon but it managed to get out.

“We were then told the deer was stranded on some land near the canal but it again managed to get free and ran away before our officers could attend.”