A WOOLLY-headed sheep caused quite a stir in Middlesmoor on Wednesday after it fell off the roof – of a two storey house!

Two crews from Harrogate Fire Station and a volunteer crew from Lofthouse were called to the incident at 10am.

After finding its way into the garden of one of the neighbouring cottages of the Crown pub, the intrepid animal had managed to hop onto a small outbuilding before clambering on to the roof.

Crowds, who had begun to gather, watched in disbelief as an aerial ladder platform was deployed in an attempt to rescue the ram as it grazed on rooftop greenery.

Watch manager Ben Cairns, from Harrogate Fire Station Green Watch, said: “It’s possibly the most unusual animal that we have attempted to rescue from a roof!”

Firefighters on the platform tried to steer the sheep to safety but the baa-dly behaved animal had other ideas and ran onto an adjacent slate roof, which had become slippery due to rain.

Despite the crews’ best efforts the sheep fell off the building, but to everyone’s surprise it got up and ran off.

Unfortunately the sheep suffered a broken rear leg, which is currently being treated.

Mr Cairns said: “It slipped off the front of the property and landed. It was fine, although its leg was injured. We left it with villagers who knew the local farmer.

“Every effort was made to protect the animal from becoming harmed.”

nina.swift@ypn.co.uk