Police helicopter scrambled to gorge following report of cries for help found a goat and her kid

A police helicopter went on a 40-mile round trip after a report of cries for help only to discover it was a goat and her kid. A worried member of the public dialled 999 saying they heard screams for help inside Cheddar Gorge, Somerset.



A National Police Air Service helicopter, fitted with high-powered video equipment, was scrambled from Filton in Bristol 20 miles away. But within minutes of arriving over the scene on Wednesday they realised the sounds were coming from a goat and her offspring.

The helicopter crew tweeted: "1205hrs Cheddar Gorge reports of cries for help. We located a goat and her baby believed responsible for the calling. We're not kidding!" Avon and Somerset police said: "A member of the public called to say they were concerned that someone was asking for help.



"The police helicopter used video imaging from the helicopter and decided it was just goats. They informed the caller it appeared to be a false alarm." It is estimated the police helicopter, which has two crew, a pilot and a spotter, costs around £800 an hour to operate. The aircraft is thought to have been in the air for around an hour, including hovering over the gorge in an attempt to locate the source of the cries.