A runaway bull was shot dead by police after charging at people during the school run in a village.

The escaped animal caused the local primary school to go into lockdown and residents were warned to stay indoors while its owner and armed police dealt with the incident shortly before 9am on Wednesday in Haslington, Cheshire.

Police tried to get the animal under control but it was in an “agitated” state and a danger to the public so had to be shot.

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Cheshire Police said in a statement: “At 8.50am on Wednesday April 19, police were alerted to a bull on the loose and charging at people in Wells Avenue, Haslington.

“Local officers, supported by firearms officers, attended the scene and local residents, including the nearby school, were advised to stay inside as the bull in its agitated state posed an immediate threat to their safety.

“There was also a real risk of the bull escaping onto the main road and surrounding housing estates which could have caused a serious accident.

“Officers, with the help of the owner, attempted to secure the bull but the owner was unable to do so and the immediate danger to the public and the officers was high.

“A decision had to be made to dispatch the animal before anyone was seriously hurt.

“This decision is never taken lightly and the main focus here was to protect residents, some of whom were dropping children off at the nearby school.”

Local resident Paul Dalton, who was dropping off his grandchildren at the village school at the time, wrote on Facebook: “Heard the commotion behind us and saw bull charging up the avenue where my car was parked.

“When I got back from school, the avenue was blocked by two vans, two trailers and three police cars! Had to wait an hour to recover car, luckily undamaged.”