A town overrun by nuisance sheep is hiring a shepherd to help round them up
Blaenavon, in south Wales, has seen sheep run amok with the out-of-control creatures sparking traffic jams, eating garden flowers and grazing in the cemetery.
Councillors blamed vandals cutting fences to drive their quad bikes around the surrounding hills for letting the sheep loose.
The freed animals have been seen wandering the streets and disrupting traffic after escaping from nearby fields.
Local councillor Nick Horler said it was a ‘massive issue’ which could not only endanger the animals but also cause road accidents.
Torfaen borough council is planning to hire a ranger to manage the stray sheep in the town and maintain the surrounding area, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Sheep have been spotted blocking roads in the South Wales town of Blaenavon
The town, a Unesco World Heritage Site at the foot of the Brecon Beacons, is set to turn to a shepherd to keep the animals under control
It has been suggested the sheep are running free as vandals cut through fences penning them in to drive quad bikes off-road
At the authority’s recent meeting, Mr Horler asked: ‘Is it now time to reinstate a shepherd to ease the current concerns raised by many of our community?’
Blaenavon was a thriving hub during the industrial revolution with coal mines and iron works and is now a popular tourist spot at the foot of the Brecon Beacons.
For hundreds of years, commoners have been allowed to keep sheep on the surrounding land.
Councillor Janet Jones said a shepherd was necessary for sheep’s welfare.
‘The commoners are repairing their fences but then offroaders, and sometimes walkers, go and break them again,’ she said, adding: ‘People need to be educated.’
Mandy Owen, a Labour councillor, said a ‘ranger role’ could be filled.
She said: ‘Through the Blaenavon World Heritage Partnership the council is leading work to explore introducing a new ranger role to support day to day management, coordination and communication in relation to straying of stock and wider common land issues.
‘This proposal is dependent on partner organisations contributing funding.’
Mr Horler previously said neighbours in the town had been terrorised by a stray ram whose owner couldn’t be identified.
