A RAMPAGING cow gave car mechanics a shock yesterday when it charged through their garage in a bid for freedom.

The cow escaped from Darlington Auction Mart, at about 9.30am, dashed 500m down busy streets and through Evans Halshaw car workshop, before becoming trapped in the car park at the rear of the dealership.

Chris Neesam was working in the Brunswick Street garage when the cow broke through the doors. He said: "Someone said there was a cow in the workshop. I was busy working when it came to the doors, but it barged through, so I hid behind the van until it ran out the other side."

Children from the neighbouring nursery watched the drama unfold from behind the fencing of their playground, while workers at the car dealership were told by police to retreat from the scene to avoid frightening the cornered animal.

With police closing off nearby roads, mart staff eventually returned the beast to the mart after luring it into a trailer with two other cows. But it was all in vain for the animal, which was later sold at auction and will be slaughtered over the next few days.

The animal had jumped the gate of the cattle wagon as it was being unloaded.

It is believed cattle market staff had to jump red lights and drive the wrong way up one-way streets in a desperate attempt to divert the animal to safety.

Stephen Aitken, manager of Darlington Auction Mart, said: "The animal was frightened, not wild. You can't control an animal when it gets in a strange environment. Its nature takes over and it becomes an unknown commodity."

The incident is one of a growing number of cases of animals escaping from the auction mart. In February, a woman was hospitalised after an escaped bull knocked her down in the street.

And although no one was hurt, the incident has provoked calls for the mart to be moved out of town, as developers continue working on plans for a £14m mart at Humbleton Farm, on the A68.

Mr Aitken said: "Until we get this cattle market moved to outside of the town, then this sort of incident will continue to happen. There is very few auction marts in the middle of town centres these days, and in Darlington we are behind the times."

Plans for the Hambleton Farm development have yet to be submitted to Darlington Borough Council.