MOTORISTS taking a break at a Hampshire service station were treated to the bizarre sight of an angry giraffe trying to escape from its transporter.

Officers rushed to the Bucks service station on the A303 at Barton Stacey near Winchester, yesterday afternoon after reports that an adult giraffe was on the loose.

When they arrived, they found the 18-foot animal had ripped through the canvas covering on the transporter and was trying to escape but had not yet managed to get free.

PC Simon Murray said: "This giraffe was huge and it was very angry and kicking out. When we arrived, the trailer was shaking and the animal was bleeding from its head.

"The man transporting the giraffe said the animal had come out of its sedation and that had caused the problem.

"We tried to stop people getting too close to take pictures but we realised the man whose job it is to transport giraffes had the situation under control."

The animal was en route from Longleat Zoo in Wiltshire when the incident happened.

A zoo spokeswoman said the male giraffe was returned to the zoo.