AN ESCAPED bull brought chaos to a busy road yesterday after escaping from an abattoir.

The desperate animal was seen jumping barriers on the A66 dual carriageway, sparking panic among drivers.

Armed police were called to the scene and fought through traffic to reach the bull, close to the Bowesfield turn-off, in Stockton.

After more than an hour on the loose, the beast was shot by officers.

Cleveland Police were inundated with calls from members of the public caught up in the mayhem, not knowing what the bull would do next.

It is believed to have escaped from nearby Cleveland Meat Company, in Yarm Road, Stockton, and headed straight for the A66.

Officers received the first call at about 3pm, saying a cow was in the road causing panic.

Minutes later, a police vehicle approached and tried to guide it off the road.

The east-bound carriageway was closed at 3.15pm, with fears for public safety, and air support was put on stand-by.

A call then came in from a motorist to say the bull was jumping barriers, and armed officers were called to the scene, close to Preston Farm Industrial Estate.

The animal was edged away from the busy road, with traffic backing up for miles around. The road was then reopened to clear queuing motorists.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said last night: "There were concerns that the bull could become a danger to the public if it was allowed to get back on to the carriageway."

The beast was cornered into a patch of land close to Stiller Transport and shot at about 4.20pm.

Cleveland Meat Company, based less than half a mile away at the Cattle Market, Yarm Road, declined to comment on the incident last night.