Only kidding – police helicopter scrambled to perfectly contented goat

The goat is one of a group released on to the gorge to keep down scrub and promote the growth of wild flowers. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

A police helicopter scrambled after cries of distress were reported from the Avon Gorge found that a perfectly contented goat was creating the din.

The crew on the National Police Air Service helicopter had been looking for a person who might have tumbled into the city-centre gorge.

But they were able to return to their base in Filton, Bristol, and tweet the cheerful end of the mission.

1650hrs Avon Gorge searching for person who sounded in distress. We may have found the culprit! pic.twitter.com/1GY3WCRMgg

— NPAS Filton (@NPAS_Filton) January 24, 2016

The goat was one of a group released on to the slopes of the gorge to keep down scrub and promote the growth of wild flowers.

It is not the first time the helicopter has dashed to the rescue only to find it had been called to the bleating of a goat. The crew flew to Cheddar Gorge in March last year after reports of cries for help. They later tweeted: “We located a goat and her baby believed responsible for the calling.”