On-the-run wallaby found dead after search

The body of an escaped wallaby has been found by the roadside during searches of the Leicestershire countryside.

Mr Willoughby Wallaby, one of four brothers at Roots at Thorpe Farm in Barkby Thorpe, hopped out of his enclosure after Storm Amy brought down a tree, damaging the perimeter on Monday.

Searches had been taking place this week including aerial assistance from charity Drone To Home with a number of sightings of the escapee.

But on Friday farmer George Mount said Mr Willoughby Wallaby had been found dead.

He said: "It is gutting. As it was getting dark last night we had three really good, positive sightings quite near the village so we were out putting out some measures trying to catch him.

"He'd gone into some hedgerows so we didn't want to spook him in the dark.

"I got up extra early this morning to stroll round and unfortunately found him lying on the roadside on a grass verge.

"It looks like he's either been clipped or hit by a car."

Mr Willoughby Wallaby was five and had lived at Thorpe Farm with three brothers for four years since moving to Leicestershire from a breeder in Exeter, Devon.

Mr Mount said they had become a popular attraction alongside their alpacas, goats and chickens.

He added: "The positives we take are the great efforts by everyone, the community and support that's out there, but it's extremely sad."

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