A BRAZEN flock of sheep put two marauding foxes to flight by uniting in a 36-strong band and charging the would-be raiders right out of their grazing land.

The remarkable dawn incident was seen by a resident whose home overlooks farmland in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Just before 6am a fox appeared in the field, in the Rossett Green-Pannal area of town, where the sheep were grazing.

But as soon as the flock spotted the foxy danger they gathered tightly together and moving in unison they turfed the fox out of the field in a sweeping protest.

Just a few minutes later a second, larger fox appeared in the field. Again the sheep, Mule ewes, banded together and repeated their tactics.

The foxes moved menacingly towards the sheep on the farm of Ronald Harrison and his son Andrew, of Church Lane in Pannal.

However, both foxes were sent scurrying fled into gardens at Throstle Nest Drive.

Early riser pensioner David Anson, who saw both incidents from his home in nearby Mallinson Oval, said: "It was an amazing sight. The sheep banded together and just moved together to send the foxes packing.

"There was no doubting who won the day.

"It was certainly a major victory for the sheep, simply because they just piled together and their sheer numbers caused the foxes to run off," said Mr Anson.

The sheep remained calm, cool and collected throughout the two incidents.

But after the last fox had been swept away the flock began clambering up walls and poking into hedges to make sure their uninvited guests had vanished.

Farmer Ronald Harrison said ewes were particularly protective of newborn lambs when foxes were around.

But the long-time farmer said he had never seen them join forces to scare off foxes