POLICE firearms officers shot dead an escaped bull that was causing chaos at a North-East factory today.
Durham police officers were called to Flymo, in Preston Road, Newton Aycliffe Business Park, County Durham, at about 11.30am.
Initial reports were that there was a cow on the road within the factory site.
A police spokesman said: "A further call revealed it was actually a bull that had crashed through the barriers and was causing mayhem.
"The owner, a farmer from Coundon, was at the scene fairly quickly and although the bull had calmed down to a degree the farmer said he was unable to capture it without putting people at risk.
"It was decided in the interests of public safety that the bull should be destroyed."
The decision was taken at about 1pm and the bull was killed by police marksmen before the farmer removed the carcass. No one was hurt in the incident.
No one from Flymo was available for comment tonight.
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