A police chase ended up at a sheep farm in rural Cheshire - and the quick-thinking farm team leapt to assist with herding up suspects. Pye Ash Farm in Bosley, near Macclesfield, has a large sheep herd, and farmer James Gilman is an award-winning sheepdog trainer.
James was working the fields in his tractor when the police chase began across the farm property. The drama unfolded on Sunday afternoon, with a police pursuit that started on the A34 in Wilmslow.
Cheshire Police say two cars failed to stop at Maclean Way in Wilmslow, so police continued in pursuit for around 10 miles until the cars were "made to stop" near the Bosley crossroads at the junction of the A54 and A523. Police say a number of men then "made off" from the vehicles into the rural countryside around.
Read more : Local coffee shop's fury as Costa open third cafe in the area
That led police to Pye Ash Farm, which as well as a sheep farm is known for it large pumpkin fields and pumpkin-picking events throughout October. Farmer James and his family who run the long-established farm assisted officers on Sunday.
The farm said it "made a change from catching tups" - tups being the name of male sheep - on their Instagram.
James' daughter told the MEN: "Dad was doing tractor work as the policeman was chasing a man on foot. The policeman jumped in the tractor with dad and got him to follow the suspect down the fields on the tractor but when they couldn't get across the river they both chased on foot.
"Once they had caught him, we took one handcuffed suspect and the policeman up the road on the quad bike. It was very surreal in usually quiet Bosley."
Cheshire Police said in a statement: "At 1.36pm on Sunday 27 November police followed two cars along the A34 Maclean Way in Wilmslow.
"The cars failed to stop and were made to stop near Bosley Crossroads. A number of men made off and a search was made of the area, including local fields.
"Five men aged 29, 21, 27, 24 and 28 were located and arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and driving offences."
Read more of today's top stories here
READ MORE:
- Struggling neighbours in Salford's 'biggest eyesore' face 'scandalous' rent hike - on Christmas Eve
- Police release CCTV footage after three attempted kidnappings that saw schoolgirls targeted
- How the Devil Dog Mobster's reign of terror ended in a hail of bullets at the wheel of his £50k Mercedes
- Loan sharks and drug dealer caught in a dead end among Greater Manchester criminals waking up behind bars
- Village rocked by murder of devoted dad found shot and attacked with acid in quiet street
