A distressed white stag running through the streets of Liverpool was shot dead by armed police because it was a risk to the public.
Merseyside Police said that they were unable to get an organisation to remove the deer in time and so they were left with no option but to kill it.
Emergency services received calls about the stag being on the loose in the Bootle area of Liverpool around 8.45am on Sunday morning, reported the Liverpool Echo.
NHS worker Paula, who did not want to give her surname, was travelling to work at Royal Liverpool University Hospital when she spotted the animal.
Paula says she saw the white deer at 8.45am and as a police officer approached the animal it galloped off towards Bootle.
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Paula captured footage of the animal running down Derby Road, past a car showroom.
Speaking to the Echo, Paula said: "I was on my way to work at the Royal this morning.
"As I came over the flyover in Seaforth, there was a police car at the lights at the top of Knowsley Road and as the officer approached off it ran towards Bootle.
"It must have been have been quite scared and I genuinely have no idea where it was from."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said the stag was also spotted on various other roads including Marsh Lane and Hornby Road.
Armed response officers were deployed as there were concerns for safety for motorists and they were able to secure the deer on an industrial estate off Melling Road.
A veterinary surgeon was called to the scene to monitor the animal's welfare and assist the officers' attempts to control the animal.
Police said they made a number of calls to find an organisation that could assist with recovering the deer safely, but were unable to get assistance and as the hours went by the deer became more distressed.
Due to the animal being a danger to drivers and the public, police said they couldn't let the deer wander, especially as night began to fall.
As a result a decision was made in the early evening to euthanise the deer.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police told the ECHO: "We can confirm that a number of reports were received of a wild deer running along various roads in Bootle at about 8.45am yesterday morning (Sunday, 26 September).
"The deer was spotted on various roads including Marsh Lane and Hornby Road.
"There were concerns for safety for motorists and Armed Response officers were able to secure the deer on an industrial estate off Melling Road and a veterinary surgeon was called to scene to monitor the animals welfare and assist the officers attempts to control the animal.
"Several enquiries were made to find an organisation who could assist with recovering the deer safely, but unfortunately we were unable to get assistance and as the hours went by the deer became more distressed.
"There was no option to let the deer wander as it could be a danger to motorists and members of the public in the area, particularly as the hours of darkness approached.
"As a result a decision was made in the early evening to euthanise the deer."
