Residents are calling for action after rampaging sheep invaded a Baildon street.

A flock of around 50 sheep escaped from Baildon Moor before entering gardens in the Moorland Avenue area of the village - the latest in a long line of escapes.

Resident Thomas Burden said people had to chase sheep off their gardens three times last week and it is getting worse.

His comments follow an incident on Tuesday morning when police had to pursue a flock of ten sheep from the village centre to Baildon cemetery.

He said: "When you live near a moor you expect it a little but it's just getting out of hand. This is the worst year we've had yet. It's just a nuisance. They eat all your plants - last year they cleared next door out.

"Farmers should be able to control their sheep better by putting up fences. Half the problem is you can never find out who they belong to. We've complained but nothing happens."

Another resident Eric Stefanyszyn has lived in Moor-land Avenue for twenty years but says the problems have been getting worse.

He said: "The sheep are breaking through the fences and coming through everyone's gardens. Something has to be done - I don't want to be getting out of bed three times at night to move them."

And Councillor Grahame Thornton (Lib Dem, Baildon), said the problem is that nobody wants to take responsibility for the sheep. He said: "The chances of the Council doing something are every remote and that leaves the individuals who are suffering to take action. The people who are suffering should get together and make claims against the sheep's owner. When the claims for damage are added together I'm sure the farmer would think twice about getting a shepherd."

A Bradford Council spokes-man said: "Two years ago the Highways Sub-committee considered the issue of providing cattle grids to prevent sheep straying along the road from Baildon Moor into people's gardens. It was decided that the Council was not in a position to pay for the grids.

"We would, however, be prepared to consider installing cattle grids if they were paid for by local people. This would not necessarily solve the problem as sheep roll over the grid at the top of Baildon and can gain access to people's properties by other means like climbing over walls and going thorough open gates."

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