Monster catches the eye as he's on the move (From The Oxford Times)

Monster catches the eye as he's on the move

7:00pm Thursday 24th February 2011 in News

IT’S not every day that a plesiosaur is spotted roaming Oxford’s streets.

But this life-size aquatic reptile turned heads in the city centre when it was wheeled to a new home.

The monster of the deep was on its way from the Museum of Natural History in Parks Road to the Story Museum in Pembroke Street.

Children were given the chance to help push the monster across the city.

“Not Nessie” was created by animatronics experts Crawley Creatures for the forthcoming Channel 5 programme The Loch Ness Monster, The Ultimate Experience. The plesiosaur is said to be a distant relative of the legendary Highland lake’s mysterious inhabitant.

Cath Nightingale, of the Story Museum said: “The children very much enjoyed the experience. They were delighted to help and were in particular intrigued by its lack of teeth. They were very keen to hang on to his flippers.”

The trip along Broad Street and Cornmarket Street was part of a Dinosaur and Dragon Hunters family event on Tuesday.