Express & Star

WATCH: Runaway sheep survives sprint down dual carriageway

Motorists were left stunned when they spotted a runaway sheep legging it down a busy dual carriageway yesterday.

Published

The sheep was determined on making a break for freedom as it galloped down the central reservation of the A34 at around 11.15am.

Startled drivers pulled over has they tried to herd the rogue sheep, but it escaped their clutches.

Lisa Smith and her 19-year-old daughter Liv caught the runaway ram on camera as they travelled along the Stratford Road in Solihull.

Mum-of-two Lisa, managing director of a PR firm, pulled over to try and catch the fugitive but Liv ended up calling the police before the sheep made a dash for the M42 motorway.

Lisa, from Birmingham, said: "I'd been at a business meeting and Liv had been staying at a friend's, so I went to pick her up and on the way home I needed to get petrol.

"To get to the petrol station I went to cut through Stratford Road, a busy dual carriageway with restaurants, bars and shops.

"I was driving along and all of a sudden Liv went 'oh my God, what's that?'

"I looked over - I thought it was a massive dog at first, I certainly never expected it to be a sheep.

"It wasn't big and woolly, it looked like it had just been sheared.

"It was bolting down the central reservation - it was going at full pelt, I didn't even realise sheep could run, it was like Usain Bolt!

"We followed it for a bit - we couldn't even keep up with it, because of the traffic - and then I started to get worried, as it was heading towards the motorway and could have caused a dangerous accident.

"I pulled over and tried to shepherd it, but because of my high heels I couldn't really do it - so I got Liv to call the police.

"I think they were as baffled as we were!

"By that time other motorists were stopping too - there were guys getting out trying to rugby tackle it, but it just kept dodging them.

"We were all there trying to corral it but it kept ducking and diving - it must have been quite a sight.

"The police van with flashing lights turned up, and then a farmer came along and managed to catch it.

"It must've escaped from a field, but it's such an urban area you'd never expect to see a sheep!

"My husband and other daughter thought it was absolutely hilarious."

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said it was a happy ending.

She said: "A local farmer put the sheep in the back of his wagon and he will make enquiries with the sheep owner."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.