POLICE officers have been forced to take a goat into protective custody after it insisted on running riot on a busy main road.

Motorists and shoppers in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, looked on in amusement as the animal ran around Fore Bondgate and High Bondgate on Saturday afternoon with officers in pursuit.

PC Calvin Skinner, who was involved in the unusual chase, said he and colleagues enticed the goat with apples from Marks and Spencer, then used a dog lead to escort the animal to Bishop Auckland Rugby Club where they tried to leave it to graze.

PC Skinner said: "We did our best to take it to safety and thought it would be happy to graze there until we could find its owner, but as soon as we took the lead off it ran off back towards Bondgate.''

Earlier in the day, the goat had been seen walking outside shops in Fore Bondgate, but it soon fled when it saw a Rottweiler being walked by its owner.

After giving police the slip, the animal was eventually escorted to a police van and taken into custody until its owner could be traced.

PC Skinner said: "When we walked it walked, and when we ran it ran. It would not let us get in front of it.

"People were driving past laughing, even we had to laugh at the situation.

"We have had to find somewhere for it to be cared for until we can find its owner. Asda in the town has kindly given us surplus fruit and vegetables to feed it over the weekend.''

Anyone who recognises the mischievous animal, or thinks they might know who it belongs to, can contact PC Skinner at Bishop Auckland police station, on (01388) 603566.