Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Lucy Marshall

Leeds residents' confusion finding sheep 'having sleepover' in garden

People in Leeds were left "confused" after spotting sheep "having a sleepover" in their gardens.

On Sunday (May 1) a number of residents reported sheep relaxing outside their homes in Halton and Temple Newsam. One even came home from Bank Holiday Sunday celebrations and got out of a taxi in the early hours to a "surreal experience" - seeing a sheep "chomping on grass" in their garden.

Another resident reported they had a sheep accompanied by a lamb resting in their back garden for over 24 hours. West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called out to several reports of missing sheep on Sunday morning, after their owner said quad bikes had come onto his land and scared them away.

Read more: Police issue statement on dramatic Leeds rooftop stand-off as wanted man arrested

Shahab Adris said he was greeted by a "rare visitor" nestled in his garden on Sunday morning. He said: "She had walked a long way from a farm in Swillington I believe, to Halton Moor. She certainly made her self comfortable whilst enjoying our company.

"It was quite early in the morning and at first I thought I was dreaming. A very unusual experience but a nice one nonetheless."

Shahab Adris had an 'unusual' wake up call on Sunday morning after finding a sheep in his garden (Submitted)

Someone in Temple Rise said they got out of a taxi at 1.30am of find sheep roaming. They said: "We came home to find him chomping on the grass. The sheep left after a while and I wondered where it went.

"Honestly it was surreal - we were getting out of the taxi and the driver said 'huh sheep'. We thought the neighbour had got a life-size sheep statue until it started making a noise. The most exciting thing to ever happen in our cul-de-sac!"

A Temple Newsam resident who woke up to a sheep and lamb outside their patio door on Sunday morning said: "There was a sheep and lamb in my garden, they were comfortable and safe - we were trying to find the owners. Let's get them home.

A Leeds resident was coming home from a night out on Bank Holiday Sunday around 1.30am when they saw a sheep 'chomping' on their grass (Davina Bowkett)

"I was shocked to see them outside of my window. I was worried as we live by the main road by the motorway, and we were worried about foxes too.

"We just made sure they were safe and secure until we found the owner." The woman added that the sheep "had a sleepover" in her garden on Sunday night before police came to the home around 8am on Monday. The owner came to collect them at 10am after reportedly driving around Leeds to try and find them.

West Yorkshire Police issued an update on Monday morning, and said: "Officers had an unusual call out for sheep in Halton Moor yesterday morning. This little one was collected by the farmer and is now safely back with its flock.

West Yorkshire Police had an 'unusual call out' for sheep in Halton Moor on Sunday morning. They found a lamb, but reported some sheep were not 'not so lucky' (West Yorkshire Police)

"Sadly some of the flock were not so lucky. The farmer stated that some quad bikes had come onto his land, scaring the sheep and lambs out of the field.

"If you have any information regarding the anti-social use of quads and off road bikes in the area, or know who is responsible please contact police on 101, or report online via the West Yorkshire Police website. Both can be done anonymously."

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.