Police had to use their vans as a make-shift roadblock to stop 20 runaway horses causing more mayhem on a housing estate after they escaped from a stud farm.

The horses, from Tyersal House Farm, had broken through a fence from a field and got on to Tyersal Park on Sunday just after 7pm.

Playing youngters fled for cover as the herd headed down the middle of a nearby road.

It is believed staff from the Tyersal Club raised the alarm and called police for back-up. Police arrived in vans and took about an hour to get the horses back into their field.

One resident, who did not want to be named, had rushed out to shut his garden gate when he heard the horses’ hooves, which he described as being “like a stampede”.

He said: “People round here are used to the horses getting out but this was really bad.

“It was dangerous – the horses were frantic; some were fighting each other. Someone could have got badly hurt if they had been in the way. There were children crying – it was really frightening.

“The police have had to deal with it before, but this was the biggest presence yet.

“They had to use their vans to block the end of the road off so they could try and get the horses back into the field."

A police spokesman confirmed it took officers about an hour to get the situation under control and they had spoken to the horses’ owner.

When the Telegraph & Argus approached Julie Nunney, of Tyersal House Farm, she said she did not want to comment.

But it is understood that she has carried out repairs and improvements to fencing that separates her land and the park, run by Leeds City Council.

According to her land deeds, Leeds City Council also shares the responsibility to put up a secure fence.

Ward councillor Josie Jarosz (Pudsey, Lab) said: “I thought things had settled down since the fence was improved.

“I’m worried about the amount of police resources it takes up when horses get out.

“I’ve noticed there are other horses being kept at the side of the club now and I’m not sure who they belong to.

“Someone could be getting robbed and burgled while officers’ time is being taken up looking after someone else’s horses. That’s not right. No doubt it will be on the agenda again when the neighbourhood forum meets on May 15.”

A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: “We have already made changes to access to the park and have blocked off nearby fields.

“There have been ongoing issues with horses getting access from nearby fields or people deliberately leaving horses there.

“We have put great efforts into resolving this issue and will be contacting the landowner to see if there is something further she can do. It is unacceptable to have horses running loose in a public park and putting visitors at risk.”