MOTORISTS were disrupted for nearly an hour on the A55 due to an unexpected cause of traffic.

Traffic Wales said the dual carriageway was closed in both directions at Junction 11, near Bangor due to sheep straying onto the road.

It tweeted that traffic officers were called at about 8.40am to "safely remove them" from the busy route.

Traffic camera images showed a long queue of vehicles brought to a standstill while officers tried to catch the fluffy cattle.

North Wales Chronicle:

They did so by 9am, however one sheep reappeared on the road just before 9.10am and officers had to return to the scene.

It was then that they decided to catch the lone rider and transport them to a safe spot where they would not be at further danger to themselves or motorists.

North Wales Chronicle: The sheep returned to the road after being shewed away half an hour earlier. Picture: @TrafficWalesN/TwitterThe sheep returned to the road after being shewed away half an hour earlier. Picture: @TrafficWalesN/Twitter

Traffic Wales tweeted pictures of officers with the traffic jam culprits, alongside the caption: "Our traffic officers with the sheep they rescued that was attempting to pull the wool over their eyes by making illegal ewe turns on the A55."

The carriageway was reoponed in both directions at about 9.40am.