Mountain goats run amok in Wales as town left deserted in coronavirus lockdown - VIDEO

CORONAVIRUS locked-down towns in Wales have been taken over by mountain goats now free to stroll undisturbed by humans in the deserted streets during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Llandudno: Goats take to street during coronavirus lockdown

Footage of mountain goats peacefully strolling the streets of Llandudno, Wales, has emerged on social media bringing people under  lockdown something to smile about. The gang of goats was spotted by resident and reporter Andrew Stuart who captured the moment the mountain goats took advantage of the empty roads in North Wales.

Mr Stuart, who works for the Manchester Evening News, said he called the police after he noticed the animals breaking isolation rules by gathering in a large group and not keeping the required two metres apart on Friday night.

Mr Stuart said he noticed the goats having "a midnight feast" on hedges, tweeting: "They were probably going to run riot on the town, what with nobody being about due to the lockdown.

"I also wasn't sure if they were keeping the required two metres apart."

He said North Wales Police officers attended the scene in a patrol car, adding: "I'm sorry if the goats got arrested. But they were being very naughty."

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Coronavirus Wales: Mountain goats strolling in Llandudno (Image: ANDREW STUART)

coronavirus wales llandudno mountain goats video

Coronavirus Wales: Mountain goats spotted in Llandudno (Image: ANDREW STUART)

But the animals returned over the weekend and were still destroying garden bushes, eating leaves in Trinity Square in the town centre, and sleeping in a churchyard on Monday.

Mr Stuart said that although the Great Orme "goat overlords" usually only leave their territory on the coastal headland to take refuge in the outskirts of the village in windy weather, "they're now going further than ever".

The Great Orme headland is home to a herd of around 200 wild goats, which are thought to be descended from a pair of Indian goats presented by the Shah of Persia to Queen Victoria in 1837.

People have been warned they should only leave their home to go shopping once a week as part of the restrictions imposed to combat COVID-19.

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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps suggested Britons should only buy the essentials in their once-weekly trip to the supermarket.

The official coronavirus guidance issued by the Government does not set out how often people are allowed to leave their home to go shopping, but recommends that it is "as infrequent as possible".

Some police forces have been accused of heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government.

Mr Shapps acknowledged there had been "teething problems" but said people should follow the rules.

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"People know the rules that have been set, try and shop just once a week," he told the BBC.

"Just do the essentials, not everything else."

Mr Shapps said there had been "one or two instances" of police being overzealous with enforcement measures but forces were generally being "sensible".

He said: "I think the police are doing a difficult job.

"There will be one or two instances where they have perhaps not approached it in the right way but in general, actually, across the country not only are people complying very well but, generally speaking, the police are taking a very sensible approach to it."

Mr Shapps also said people should not be getting into cars to drive to the countryside to take their daily exercise.