St Osyth cashes in on big cat scare as choc sales soar (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

St Osyth cashes in on big cat scare as choc sales soar

5:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

A CHIP shop owner is cashing in on the St Osyth lion’s notoriety ... by selling deep-fried chocolate bars.

Neil Young, who runs The Hoy in the village, has been serving up battered Kit Kat and Lion bars since last Thursday.

The deep-fried delicacies have been a roaring success with customers.

“No sooner had we put the board outside the shop when kids started coming in and asking for them,” said Mr Young.

“It’s just a bit of a laugh and some harmless fun.”

The 'lion' sighting sparked a massive search involving armed police and helicopters with heat-seeking thermal imaging equipment.

Cops called off the hunt after finding no evidence of the mystery big cat.

The Beast of St Osyth later turned out to be nothing bigger than a ginger tom called Teddy, owned by Leisure Glades Park resident Ginny Murphy, 51.