AN EMU is on the loose after going missing from an animal shelter in a small Wiltshire town.

Malmesbury Animal Sanctuary said 'optimism is dwindling' for the safe return of Irwin, who the shelter realised had gone missing at around 7.30am on Monday, September 30.

The Foxley Road sanctuary feared that the male bird may have slipped into the River Avon at the bottom of its fenced field and been swept downstream due to the field being partially flooded.

However, it initially said that as emus are strong and natural swimmers, it is more likely that Irwin had exited on the opposite side of the river and was resting in somebody’s garden along the stretch between Dark Lane and Daniel’s Well in Malmesbury.

A house-to-house garden search has been launched, and a drone has also been used to try to locate the bird.

The sanctuary, which is located on a hill with a steep slope leading down to the river, is home to six emus.

Irwin has lived in the shelter’s field for over five years and has never left it previously, meaning this behaviour is unusual for him and likely to be accidental.

Gary Nagev, who runs the sanctuary with partner Janinka Diverio, said that none of the shelter’s animals usually stray from the field.

“The river has broken its banks, and the course of the river is quite strong in line with all the recent rain,” he said.

“The emus don't normally choose to go into the river, but we think there may have been an accident.

“They may have been chasing each other around and Irwin may have slipped in.”

Gary added that Irwin will not find his way back to the shelter by himself and needs to be found.

Malmesbury Animal Sanctuary said it is is 'forever hopeful' for Irwin's safe return and had asked everyone in the area to search their gardens, keep a look out and to inform the shelter if they had witnessed any suspicious behaviour around the sanctuary.

For more information, visit facebook.com/malmesburyanimals