Cows blamed for traffic chaos

Traffic came to a standstill on roads around the Wyre Forest district today amid chaos which was caused by cows escaping onto a road at Bewdley.

A car break-down at Kidderminster and spillage of diesel added to the problems. Commuters travelling to Kidderminster reported journeys which usually take them 10 minutes lasting more than 45 minutes.

Police spokesman Dylan Evans said there had been "a combination of things leading to the disruption".

At 9.10am a vehicle broke down at the junction of Blackwell Street and Union Street blocking the carriageway and leading to tailbacks several miles long. It cleared after about half-an-hour when a recovery vehicle was sent out.

But at 9.30am cattle were reported to have escaped onto the Kidderminster Road at Bewdley, causing further hold-ups of traffic.

The problems lasted for about 20 minutes. Traffic began to back-up along the Habberley Road, a back route between Kidderminster and Bewdley, after a diesel spillage and minor accident.

Gemma Coles, a 27-year-old advertising executive, said: "Usually my journey into the town centre from Stourbridge Road takes about 10 minutes but today it took an extra 45 minutes."