Suffolk Fire Service rescue sheep from river at Flatford

Residents are repeatedly reporting sheep on the loose around East Bergholt, Flatford and Dedham, with regular posts calling on owners to keep the farm animals penned in.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said there had been "multiple sightings of rampaging sheep" in the area around Flatford Road in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, August 9, at around 7.10pm, Suffolk Fire and Rescue sent appliances from Felixstowe, Hadleigh and two from Bury St Edmunds, to the waters at Flatford Mill.

The picturesque River Stour at Flatford Mill (Image: Newsquest)

Fire crews used specialist equipment to rescue a sheep from the River Stour.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “We respond to a wide range of incidents such as fires, road traffic collisions and animal rescues.

“As a rural county, we will always do whatever we can to ensure the welfare of animals, including wildlife, livestock, and beloved family pets.

“Our involvement in animal rescues also reduces the danger to human life, as our fire crews can carry these out safely using their expertise and specialist equipment rather than the public being put at risk by attempting rescues themselves.”

The witness said: "Fire appliances were called out, including one specialist marine rescue unit, to save a sheep which had escaped and fallen into the river.

"This is a waste of fire appliances at this moment for a sheep which cannot be kept in.

"There have been multiple sightings of rampaging sheep in area over the past few days.

"This is a badly timed waste of appliances as fields burn around us."

• READ MORE: What is the law on paddle boarding and canoeing in River Stour?

Firefighters in north Essex have been stretched to the limit this month, with fires breaking out across the county.

Essex Fire Service crews have been called out to more than 900 incidents so far this month.

From August 1 to August 12, Essex Fire was called out to 938 incidents.

Of these 235 were false alarms, 30 were road traffic collisions, 146 were special services and 527 were fires.

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