WESTERN BUREAU:

Residents of Hatfield in Westmoreland are living in fear since a crocodile was reportedly spotted in the vicinity of a wooden footbridge now covered with water.

The residents say the reptile was spotted by children on their way home from school when they saw "a large lizard" on the bridge.

Residents are now calling on the parish council to clean the river, which is now overgrown with vegetation, so that the wildlife authorities can move in and capture the croc before someone falls prey.

Threat to students

"Me would like to see the river clean so we can get rid a them because the little youth them haffi pass fi go school," said a man who would only give his name as Zekes. "It is a threat for the youth them if him (the crocodile) still inna the water."

Another concerned resident, Anthony Meyler, told The Gleaner that he first heard about the crocodile sighting as far back as three months ago.

A woman who gave her name as Francine, who lives in proximity to the footbridge, said that, during heavy rains about two months ago, she saw the adult reptile on the bridge and, when she walked up to it, it leapt into the water.

"We are scared because we don't know when it is going to attack one of the children who is going to school so we would like a clean river and them find him," she said.