A MAD cow was back home last night after sparking a full scale alert during a dash for freedom in a North-East market town.

A police helicopter was called in to assist in the search for the barmy beast after it went on a rampage in a busy town centre.

The Charolais heifer, initially believed to be a bullock, escaped from Barnard Castle Auction Mart, on Tuesday afternoon.

It was pursued through the centre of the town by farmers and workers from the auction mart before giving them the slip by the banks of the River Tees.

It was eventually found a couple of hours later, nearly two miles from where it had escaped, in a field between Wyse Hill and Boldron.

Sergeant Jeremy Downing, of Barnard Castle police, said: "Somehow, it had got across the river and was located by some local farmers.

"I was very surprised we didn't get more calls as it went right through the centre of town.

"We called in the air support as we thought it had wandered off the beaten track down by the riverside.

"It was about 4pm when it was found, by which time it had covered quite a distance and it took quite a while to recover it."

The helicopter surprised staff at nearby Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution.

One officer said: "It was hovering over Deepdale and near the prison.

"The police normally let us know if they're looking for something nearby, so it was quite a shock when we found out they were looking for a cow."

William Bramham, an auctioneer at the mart, helped recover the cow.

He said: "It was none the worse for wear. It was just sat in a field on its own having a rest."

The cow had been bought by farmer Geoff Atkinson who was trying to tie it into a trailer when it broke free.

The cow then made its way down into the centre of Barnard Castle.

On its way, it called into Ice Designs Jewellers and knocked over a display before being shooed out by owner Andrew Dabell.

Geoff Moody, a retired police officer, saw the cow coming down the main street.

"I heard it and initially though it was a horse, but when I turned round it I saw it was cow. It was a beast.

"There was traffic moving all the time but the cars were just slowing down and letting it past.

"It was going full pelt down the main street - and once a beast like that gets going, they're hard to stop. Still, it all ended happily ever after."