"Emu. Hello, butt." Cyclists stumble across Aussie bird on Taff Trail near Cardiff (+ link to video)

A group of cyclists riding on the Taff Trail near Cardiff got a bit of a surprise when they came across an emu – which then started chasing them with the incident captured in a video posted on Wales Online.

The unlikely encounter happened near Upper Boat, to the north of the Welsh capital, with the rider who first spotted the bird, which is native to Australia, saying “Emu” followed by a typically Cardiffian greeting of “Hello, butt.”

Another of the riders, who are members of South Wales MTB, then shouted, “Oh no, it’s after us!” as the flightless bird, which can reach up to 30 miles an hour on its powerful legs, began running towards the group.

South Wales MTB’s Matt Penny told Wales Online: "They had met a dog owner who warned them there was an emu running around a bit further down.

"They thought he was playing a prank on him, so couldn't believe when they actually came across the bird."

It’s possible the bird may have escaped from a nearby farm, with emus now farmed across the UK for their meat.

Last month, we published a video of an emu chasing cyclists in a place they’re more likely to be found – the Australian capital, Canberra.

> Video: Emu chases cyclists in Canberra