Train service interrupted by escaped emu

Officials with England's Network Rail confirmed service was briefly interrupted in East Yorkshire when an emu was spotted along the tracks. File Photo by Raul Martinez/EPA

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Officials with England's Network Rail confirmed service was briefly interrupted in East Yorkshire when an emu was spotted along the tracks.

A train driver traveling from Hull to Liverpool reported spotting the large bird, native to Australia, by the tracks near the Oxmardyke level crossing, in the Gilberdyke area, about 8 a.m. Thursday.

The emu was located by Network Rail personnel and safely removed from the area.

"Normal service resumed at 10:14 a.m. but there were some changes to services and we're sorry to anyone whose journey was affected," Network Rail said in a statement provided to BBC News. "Contact has been made with the owners, who confirmed the animal was missing from their field."