Reports this week of a crocodile being sighted in the Thames near Caversham Bridge have had Reading people reaching for their calendars to check the date.

It’s not an April Fool’s Day spoof, but what 64-year-old retired university lecturer Richard Smith told getreading’s sister paper the Reading Post was a genuine report of a crocodile sighting upstream from Reading Rowing Club.

Is there a crocodile in the River Thames?

He also claims to have seen a Canada goose being dragged underwater never to reappear, and believes it fell victim to the underwater assassin.

A bright sunny day around lunchtime seemed like a likely time to catch a crocodile, so getreading turned croc hunter to see what people who live and work by the river thought about sharing their stretch of river with a rogue reptile.

Elina Evans, manager of Island Bar and Restaurant by Caversham Bridge, was doubtful but upbeat about the story.

“I certainly haven’t seen any crocodiles swimming past here and I don’t really think it’s possible for them to survive,” she said.

“Stories like this sometimes start small and grow into something crazy. I don’t think it would put our customers off, in fact it might even become a local attraction.”

Elina’s close neighbour across the river, Russell Alsop from river barge Russell’s Teapot, also saw potential for boosting visitor numbers to the area. “It’s fantastic! It could turn into Reading’s Loch Ness monster,” he said,

“I’ve seen plenty of ducklings and cygnets going under in spring, but whether it’s a crocodile that’s doing it then who knows.”

Colin Lavelle, headteacher of Ridgeway Primary School, has lived along the Caversham stretch of the Thames on his striking bright orange Dutch barge Baardvark for four years. He was a bit more sceptical about the alleged sighting.

He said: “I reckon it’s highly unlikely there are are any crocodiles round here. The biggest thing I’ve seen is a pike. They definitely eat ducks.”

He continued: “You’re about as likely to see a Great White shark as a croc here. Mind you, I will be feeding the ducks a lot more carefully in future.”

Reaction to the story from more casual visitors to the Thames Promenade were mixed.

Cyclist Peter Dobson from Caversham thought losing a few Canada geese might not be such a bad thing.

“That would be one way of culling them I reckon. They are getting to be a bit of a nuisance along here,” he said.

The Patel family from Southcote, feeding swans in blissful ignorance of the croc story, were unanimous in finding the whole idea “scary!”.

Mum Bhavini said: “We’ve just moved to Reading from Watford.

“Nobody told us you had crocodiles here.

“I definitely wouldn’t go swimming in the Thames with crocodiles around.”

Have you seen any crocs on the Thames? Contact lindafort@trinitysouth.co.uk.

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