Red the renegade robin set free
MARTLESHAM: The renegade robin which left Britain's most powerful supermarket in a flap has finally been set free, it can be revealed today.
Ken McErlain
MARTLESHAM: The renegade robin which left Britain's most powerful supermarket in a flap has finally been set free, it can be revealed today.
We reported how the tiny redbreast - nicknamed Red by his fans - had nestled in the Tesco Extra store in Martlesham for the past two months.
The feathered fugitive flew into the store during the January cold snap and stayed put until last Saturday when it was finally caught by a member of staff.
A Tesco spokesman said: “He was caught by a trap laid in the store and released back into the wild by a member of staff.
“We haven't had any further sightings of him since so it looks like he's left the store for good.”
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The robin proved a bit of a pest for staff, who were initially told they could not kill or harm it as, like all wild birds, it is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Red made a home for himself among the fruit and veg aisles and was also spotted in the crisps section.
Some concerned readers contacted the Star saying they were worried about the bird's well-being after spotting it flying in and out of crates of bananas.
The grocery giant had to liaise with Natural England to bring in specialists to help remove the elusive bird.
This resulted in several traps being laid throughout the store, which would catch but not harm the animal.
However, the robin still continued to evade capture which prompted us to launch our Save The Robin Campaign.
We were flooded with emails from people urging the store not to harm the creature as they attempted to catch it.
Are you pleased to see Red free at last? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
