A bullock caused chaos in a town centre yesterday when it ran away from a cattle market and charged into a jewellery shop.

It crashed into a display cabinet and knocked over dozens of pieces of jewellery in the Ice Designs shop, in Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Shop owner Andrew Dabell said: "I was amazed when this huge creature came in. It slipped on a rug and just had enough space to turn round.

"I waved my arms and shouted 'shoo' as loudly as I could, and was relieved when it ran back out of the door."

The Charolais bullock had been bought by farmer Geoff Atkinson, who was trying to tie it in a trailer when it broke free, knocked him over and galloped out of the market grounds.

After leaving the shop it ran along Horsemarket and Market Place, which were busy with shoppers and parked cars. The bullock did not hit any of them.

Former policeman Geoff Moody, who called police, said: "It was going at a fair tilt, and I was afraid that it was going to injure someone. It is amazing that it managed to avoid everyone."

Two officers drove a police car after the bullock and were joined by farmers and market workers, who tried to trace its route.

The beast managed to get on to the banks of the River Tees, but was eventually tracked down by police, who ensured it was safely tethered.