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A group of pigs has been filmed running riot on a motorway causing a five-hour traffic jam.

The naughty pigs made their bid for freedom after a truck transporting them to a slaughterhouse collided with another vehicle parked on the side of the highway in Ikeda, western Japan.

While a number of the 37 animals on the truck remained where they were, 19 of the hogs made their escape.

Footage filmed from a passing car shows the pigs casually trotting up and down the hard shoulder while others laze and sniff about on the verge.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

Police officers meanwhile can be seen trying to block off their route and ensure the pigs do not stray into oncoming traffic.

Police spent five and a half hours trying to round up the pigs and get them back onto the truck - while traffic came to a complete standstill.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Reuters)

None of the pigs were harmed in either the crash or the capture process, Japanese media reported.

It was unclear whether the pigs continued their journey to the butcher or back to the breeding farm after the incident.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Reuters)

This is not the first time pigs have made a bid for freedom.

A rampaging pig was spotted in Redbridge, London , back in April where police officers attempted to catch it.

The pig was eventually rounded up after chasing a jogger.