THEY say the grass isn't always greener on the other side as these sheep found out when the brought traffic to a standstill near Claines.

The oblivious flock were busy munching on the grass verge along the A449 slip road leading to Blackpole Road after escaping from their paddock on Saturday afternoon.

Motorcyclist David Beswick said he was surprised to see the sheep - which he initially believed were calves - and pulled over to call police.

He stayed with them until police arrived and flagged down other drivers to make them aware of the danger.

Mr Beswick, who lives near Blackpole Road, Worcester, said: "I was on my motorbike and came down off Blackpole Road onto the A449 slipway to the carriageway when I came across the sheep enjoying themselves on the grass verge.

"It's not something you see every day.

"They had managed to stray onto a small triangular piece of grass on the slip road and were happily munching away oblivious to all the traffic."

Police closed the road for a short time while they rounded up the eight sheep and herded them back into their field.

A police spokeswoman said they spoke with the farmer and asked him to make sure the fence was secured.

Mr Beswick said: "Luckily none of them wandered into the road and were unhurt."

It was not the only animal antics police faced as a number of sheep also managed to find their way on to the road near junction 6 on the Kidderminster side of the A449 this morning (Monday).

They were returned to their field at just after 10am.