Runaway ram subdued with Taser

The RSPCA are asking whether it was necessary for police to subdue a runaway ram with a 50,000-volt Taser stun gun.

North Wales Police said the animal had to be stopped for the safety of motorists after it ran on to a major road.

The out-of-control ovine had been running across both carriageways of the A55 near St Asaph, one of the busiest roads in Wales. The animal, which is believed to have made a full recovery, has now been returned to its field.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said that the force had received “numerous calls from concerned motorists reporting the ram as a major disruption. Officers attended and to ensure the safety of the motorists a decision was made to utilise the Taser," said the spokesman.

"This was successfully done and the ram was then returned to its owner uninjured. The ram was later returned to the farmer's field."

The RSPCA has expressed concern over the incident. A spokesman said: "One of our inspectors will look into it and try to find out what the circumstances were and what the rules and guidelines are for the user of a Taser."