TWO PONIES caused traffic chaos at one of the busiest junctions in Durham City when they made a bid for freedom at lunchtime yesterday.

Miniature Shetland pony Buttons and jumping pony Rupert bolted as they were being moved into a new field for grazing off Diamond Terrace, Durham at 1.30pm.

They were eventually reunited with their owner after a chase down Framwelgate Peth to the intersection of the A690 at Milburngate Bridge – and back again.

At one point motorists stared in disbelief as the pair waited at a pedestrian crossing in the middle of the road.

With traffic backing up, police were quickly on the scene to help catch the animals.

The ponies tried to make their way across Milburngate Bridge – but a quickthinking lorry driver blocked their path as owner Norma Wilson and other passers-by joined the chase.

The ponies doubled-back on themselves and were pursued as they returned to their field several hundred yards away.

Mrs Wilson, of Burnhope, County Durham, said: “We were moving the two ponies into the field and thought they would be really taken by the knee-high grass. Unfortunately, they took one look at it and bolted.”

“But they were in blind panic and we couldn’t stop them.”

“I am very grateful to the lorry driver that pulled his lorry sideways on Milburngate Bridge or they will have been on their way to Sunderland right now.”