A bull which made a run for freedom through a busy town centre in Flintshire has been shot dead by police marksmen.

The animal tore down fences and caused havoc after escaping from the livestock market, behind the main shopping street in Mold, at around 0900 BST on Tuesday.

Everything we put in front of it, it went straight through

Auctioneer, David Lewis

Roads were closed to motorists, workers were warned to stay indoors and business owners were told to shut access lanes.

Auctioneer David Lewis said he knew the animal could cause trouble: "It came off the lorry and it was wild.

"We isolated it but it had made its mind up that it didn't want to stay with us.

"Everything we put in front of it, it went straight through," he said.

The animal ran though the local streets before it was cornered between Chester Street and Grosvenor Street.

Public safety

The cattle market has set procedures to follow if an animal escapes.

Mr Lewis said the police had to be informed for public safety: "Once it got out on the highway we phoned the police.

"We called our vet but he advised us that he couldn't sedate it."

North Wales Police had hoped to load the beast onto a trailer but a marksman was forced to kill the animal after it ran off.

A spokesperson for the police said the bull had to be destroyed.

"He made a dash for freedom from the mart and it was a pity that it had to be destroyed but in the circumstances and the potential danger it posed, it was the safest thing to do."

Mr Lewis said the animals are normally quite tame.

"It's very rare to get an animal like this, just the odd one," he said.