Loose pig trotting past Tesco stops traffic in Wigan

Traffic was halted in a Greater Manchester town after a pig was spotting trotting around the streets.

Local binmen are understood to have stopped traffic and called police on seeing the pig wandering around Poolstock, Wigan, earlier.

After passing a Tesco Express on Poolstock Lane, the pig reportedly headed towards Marius Bridge - before it was secured from a back garden on Fulbeck Avenue, police said.

"We were called at 11:06 GMT to a pig in the road on Carr Lane/Poolstock Lane," police said. "It was secured about 11.30 GMT in the back of someone's garden on Fulbeck Avenue and held until the owner could come to collect it."

It is thought there could be a second pig still roaming freely around Poolstock, after reported sightings were made later in the day.

A pig was also spotted by Mark Sanders, 66, from Wigan, while he was out walking his dog Bandit, in Hawkley Hall earlier, at 14:30GMT.

"We were walking the dog and as we came out of our road the pig was just walking up the middle of the road," Mark said.

"Bandit is not dwarfed by many dogs he meets, so it was a bit of a shock for him to see something that was bigger than him."

It is not known whether the two incidents are linked.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.