Police Launch Large-Scale Search After 'Human Foot' Found In Field

Police who were investigating reports of a severed human foot buried in a muddy field in Gateshead were relieved - and presumably quite amused - to discover that it was just a potato.

They received a call after a woman reported seeing what she believed to be a toe sticking up out of the ground in the North East of England.

The dog walker did the right thing by alerting the police, but when they launched a 'large scale' search, the only suspect they could turn up was the root vegetable.

Well, you have to agree, it's better than finding a severed foot in the middle of a field, isn't it?

After receiving the photograph from the woman, the police carried out a search in the dark using specialist canine units and officers, but found only a potato with a mushroom growing nearby to it.

You'd have to admit, it does look quite a bit like a toe at first glance, doesn't it? The woman who called it in was clearly doing what she thought was the right thing.

Of course, the police officers agree, and have praised the concerned citizen's 'vigilance' and said she called them up out of 'good faith'.

Northumbria Police said that the photograph they received on Tuesday from the Winlaton area 'did show what appeared to be a human foot'.

It would have been bad forensic practice to yank it out of the ground to make sure, after all. Also, it would have taken some serious courage to grab hold of a severed foot and pull it up to check.

Inspector Phil Hamlani said: "The person who called this in was very concerned and in the picture she sent to us the object did look like it could be human remains.

"It was already dark by the time we got a call and so we had to deploy search teams to track down the scene to rule out any foul play."

"The search team did have a chuckle when they realised it was a potato, but the call was made in good faith and we can only praise the vigilance of the woman who made the call."

He went on to say that anyone else who thinks that they may have discovered something similar should give them a call, adding: "If it does turn out to be a vegetable, our police dogs will thank you for the treat."

That's a turnip for the books, then.

Featured Image Credit: Northumbria Police

Topics: Food, UK News, Funny, Weird

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim