LOOSE animals are putting drivers at risk on country roads, says a police inspector whose officers are rounding up livestock almost every day.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester Police said: “Several times a week we have calls about animals loose on rural roads.”

“It’s lucky we haven’t had any injuries from collisions. I don’t know how there hasn’t been a serious accident because of it. The law of averages tells me it’s going to happen.”

He said officers have to try to round up animals, often in the middle of the night, move them to safety in a nearby field and then trace the owners.

He said: “It’s usually sheep and cattle but also horses and ponies. It happens most days of the week somewhere in the area.”

Inspector Fry was speaking after officers had been called out at 1am to round up three sheep found wandering in the road at the bottom of Abbotsbury Hill.

He said: “The problem seems to be poor quality fencing and animals just get out. I don’t think it’s due to people leaving gates open.

“Animals on the road are a real hazard. If anyone sees livestock out on the road they should always ring the police so we can deal with it.”

Dorset NFU chairman Andy Foot said he believed the problem stemmed mostly from small-scale hobby farmers.

He said: “Most farmers maintain their boundary fences well because there’s simply not enough labour on farms nowadays to go rounding up animals.”

Mr Foot, who farms beef cattle and sheep at Buckland Newton, said incidents involving horses or small numbers of livestock suggested they were owned by hobby farmers.

He added: “Sheep in particular will all follow the first one through a fence and farmers are likely to have 50 or more.

“Animals out at night are more easily spooked and harder to handle. Loose animals that get on roads or into people’s gardens are at risk from injury, especially to their legs.

“I would urge all farmers and livestock owners to check their boundary fences.”