Raging bull: Police shoot-out as beast makes a bid for freedom across a major road

A police marksman took aim at bull after it managed to break out from a livestock centre and wander onto the road.

Motorists were thrown into chaos as many drivers reported near collisions with the beast as it bolted between lanes on the A64 near York.

A police marksman takes aim as the bull roams across the road

As lengthy tailbacks developed the police became involved  in a stand-off with the confused creature.

The road was cleared for two hours until the bull was finally killed by police marksmen - seen taking  aim on the top of a van.

One elderly couple's Vauxhall Vectra collided with the bull but luckily they  were unhurt.

One shocked driver said: "The bullock was standing on the verge of the road and  police were keeping about 50 metres away from it.

The police were in a two-hour stand-off with the bull and had to shut the road

"Traffic was backing up both  ways as far as you could see.

"Then the police marksmen arrived with rifles. One of them took to the roof of  a police van to get a higher vantage point.

"The marksman lay down and took up a  shooting position, but the bullock then started moving about.

"It made a dash for it and headed off down the embankment. Police ran after it  then it ran back before its path became blocked by a fence.

"One of the marksman  despatched it with a single shot. It was quite shocking to watch."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the animal had escaped from a  nearby livestock centre and had been destroyed with its owner's permission.

The bull had been running across the road and even collided with one car

The spokesman added: "When a cow or bull escapes from a farm they become  extremely agitated and pose a real danger to members of the public.

"Due to its  distressed state farmers effectively have to write the animal off and authorise  it to be destroyed by the police or a vet.

"This is not something the police enjoy doing but it is the safest way to deal  with the situation.

"While this incident resulted in only minor damage to the  car it could have been more serious or even fatal."