Police were called out to a Golf Course near Reading when a passing golfer spotted a wildcat up a tree. Fearing the animal was about to pounce on children playing below with golf balls found lying about nearby, the Police called in the army so the animal could be dealt with.
Helicopters had trouble seeing the large cat from the sky and thermal images from the children and the cat got mixed up. The local zoo was contacted and vets with weapons armed with sleeping pills were rapidly sent to the area.
By this time the children had been removed from the vicinity and the golf balls were put back in the nest's so they could hatch.
To the surprise of everyone the Wildcat suddenly dropped from the tree. It was motionless and thought to be dead. Army personnel slowly approached the lifeless animal and then to the amazement of everyone it was discovered that the 'animal' was, in fact, a stuffed toy.
The Police, smelling a rat, are questioning all golfers at the Golf Course's 19th hole but have not yet found the source of the stink.
