Hounds in Newport housing estate rampage

Thirty hounds went rampaging along the A41 and a Newport housing estate after a huntsman lost control of the dogs.

Organisers from the North Shropshire Hunt said they were at a loss as to why the hounds ran off on Saturday. The dogs ran across gardens belonging to residents of Deer Park Drive before scampering onto the A41.

Andy Wheals, who was leading the hunt, said: "I would like to profoundly apologise to any residents and anyone driving along the A41. I'm just so pleased that neither a person nor a dog was hurt.

"We were out trail hunting around Edgmond late Saturday morning when we lost the hounds.

"It was a freak accident and won't happen again."

One resident, who didn't want to be named, said: "Two of my neighbours saw the hounds running up Deer Park Drive chasing after a fox. It was horrible to see."

Chris Ammonds, spokes-man for West Mercia Police, said they attended the incident within 10 minutes of receiving a call at 12.20pm from worried residents.