Escaped emu chases children

File photo / Northern Advocate

An escaped emu chasing school children while racing down the road has given a Picton police officer his most unusual call-out in 14 years.

The emu broke out of a farm and was first seen running along the road at Ocean Bay, Port Underwood, on Saturday and had covered 7km to Hakahaka Bay by the time Constable Jeff Woolf arrived from Picton.

It chased children before eventually being herded into a paddock, Mr Woolf told the Marlborough Express.

"I felt like I was watching the Road Runner cartoon," he said.

"In 14 years on the job it's the most unusual call I've ever had."

- NZPA