Police attempts to capture a wild boar spotted on the loose in the Scottish Highlands failed as the animal evaded the long arm of the law.

The runaway boar was seen by two police officers shortly before midnight on Thursday near the A86 between Newtonmore and Laggan.

The officers stopped their car and tried to catch the animal but it charged past them.

The hunt for the beast follows a search three months ago for a large male boar nicknamed McQueen who escaped from an abattoir in Dunblane, Perthshire, 100 miles away.

The boar disappeared into the forest

Constable Andrew Irvine - a wildlife officer with Northern Constabulary - and a colleague, managed to corner the wild boar after they spotted it on Thursday night.

But in the darkness, it evaded capture and ran off into the forests at Badenoch.

The police said they did not know where the animal came from, although some farm-bred boars may be at large.

A spokesman said: "We contacted the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, but they said it wasn't one of theirs."

He urged the public to contact the police if they spot the animal.

Gerry Usher-Smith of the Kincraig Wildlife Park warned people not to approach the beast on their own as it may be dangerous.

He said: "Wild boar come from a wide range of places, across Europe to Asia. They have come across tigers and even tigers think twice about tackling a wild boar, especially a female one. It just doesn't bother."