Is he going behind baa-s? Escaped sheep sits in the back of a police car after officers herded him off the road in Hot Fuzz-style operation

This is the moment an escaped sheep found himself in the back of a police car after being driven off the road by officers in a Hot Fuzz-style operation.

The animal looked a bit ‘sheepish’ when he was put into the patrol vehicle at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, yesterday.

The incident was reminiscent of the 2007 comedy film starring Simon Pegg, which features a scene where officers try to apprehend a swan.

Officers were called after the sheep was spotted on the side of the A1 near Buckden.

Concerned motorists contacted police because they feared the farm animal would cause an accident.

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The animal looked a bit ‘sheepish’ when put into the patrol vehicle at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, yesterday

Officers were called after the sheep was spotted on the side of the A1 near Buckden

Two officers from Cambridgeshire Police herded the sheep into their car before taking it to a local farm to be scanned and returned to its owner.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: ‘It’s not every day that we are called to herd sheep.

‘This morning several disturbing calls were received from motorists on the A1 near Buckden, who were concerned that this lone sheep, balancing on the edge of the carriageway, was about to cause an accident.

‘He was a bit sheepish as we herded him into the police car and off the road before taking him to a nearby farm so he could be scanned and returned to his rightful owner.’

Locals reacted to the operation on social media, with Rachel Kavery saying: ‘I love this. Good job. He looks very happy.’

Debbie Fletcher said: ‘How beautiful. Makes for a pleasant change.’

Another said: ‘Oh my God I love this.

“The way he peeks out the window.”

Nabil Ilahi added: “Imagine arresting a sheep and putting it in handcuffs.”

Another said: ‘That sheep is from London, Ewell or Lambeth.’

This isn’t the first time police officers in the UK have had their ‘Hot Fuzz’ moment.

In October, police escorted a young swan out of Bath city center wearing one of their fluorescent jackets.

The swan caused a stir among shoppers after strolling past a cafe and shops on Sunday afternoon.

Officers led the lost swan back to the river near Pulteney Bridge in Bath.

Simon Galloway, 59, said at the time: ‘I was just shopping with my wife and daughter and we noticed some commotion outside the store.

A police officer and two community support workers guide a lost swan back to the river at Pulteney Bridge in Bath in October

One officer used a fluorescent police jacket to guide the wayward swan towards the river

The incident was reminiscent of the 2007 comedy film Hot Fuzz, which features an iconic scene in which police officers pick up a swan.

‘That was when we saw a young swan being escorted down the street, probably to the river.

‘There were loads of shoppers, everyone had their phones out and were smiling. A few dog walkers seemed quite amused too.”

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police told MailOnline: ‘We were called to Upper Borough Walls in Bath at around 1.30pm on Sunday, October 29, to a report of a swan on the road.

‘Officers from our community policing team attended and contacted the RSPCA.

‘Then they took the swan to the canal where it would be safe.’

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary also caught a runaway swan in Portsmouth in November.

One officer was seen smiling as she held the large bird after picking it up at a roundabout in the city.

Two officers return the swan and its family to the water after responding to a report of concern about a swan lying in the middle of a road

In a statement on Facebook, Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘This evening the team responded to a report of concern for the welfare of an animal in the middle of the road.

‘The following description was given…’It is about two feet long, long slender neck, slightly orange and black beak’

‘Anything else?… ‘Well, it’s a swan’.’

“We are pleased to say that we have been successful in locating Swan and reuniting him with his family at the Hilsea Lido.”