Oldham has been on a wild goose chase this past week as residents reported sightings of what they believed to be one bird cropping up all across the borough.

Last week, residents in Shaw spotted a goose wandering through the town where it was crossing roads and holding up traffic.

Residents reported it looked "bewildered" with sightings of the bird on Oak Street, Linney Lane, Glebe Street, Trent Road, Duchess Street and Rishworth Rise - and was making "a right racket" as it passed through.

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Neil Jones said he saw the goose sleeping before it "flew up the road towards Crompton House".

He added: "He can't fly very well and nearly hit a few cars.

"I really hope someone catches him soon."

The next day on Wednesday, September 4, the bird, believed to be the same goose, showed up miles away in Royton where it was seen on Denbydale Way and on Thorp Road.

Jennie Jones-Chadwick, who runs Finley's Friends dog walking service,  spotted the goose when she was on the school run.

She told The Oldham Times: "I thought I was seeing things at first, I was surprised to see a goose in the road.

"She seemed perfectly fine, not injured at all. 

"She was just going about her business like the rest of us."

The RSPCA confirmed the incident was reported to the animal welfare charity the same day after a resident said the goose had suffered from a bloodied leg, but was unable to find it.

Residents in Royton then said they spotted a goose again near the Halfway House on Rochdale Road over the weekend - and then at Oldham College in the early hours of today (September 9).

Now, it has been revealed the mystery goose was in fact a pair of missing geese.

Hilary Harry and Friends Wildlife Rescue Centre in Diggle announced earlier today (Monday, September 9), that there "wasn't just one goose wandering around the Shaw and Royton area, there were two".

The pair have since been safely caught "after multiple attempts at trying to catch them" and have come into the care of the rescue centre.

The heartwarming announcement by the bird rescue centre added: "Both ladies have arrived safe with us.

"Both happy and settled in with all our other geese."

The update comes as the RSPCA was struggling to find the bird.

A spokesperson for the charity told The Oldham Times: “We're really grateful to the members of the public who have been looking out for this goose and their welfare.

"There may be times when the public can help smaller sick, injured, abandoned or trapped animals quickly by taking them directly to a vet, a rehabilitation centre or a rescue centre.

“With larger animals, such as adult geese, we advise the public to contact the RSPCA, or other organisations, to help.

"Members of the public who find injured wildfowl should be cautious handling them as avian flu is still present in the UK."

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk