The goats are in charge now (Picture: PA)

Goats have been defying the lockdown in a North Wales town by taking advantage of the quiet streets to mount a takeover.

Empty roads in Llandudno proved a tempting habitat for the animals, who have been gorging on hedges and gardens.

Yes, nature does seem to be returning now that everyone in the UK has been told to stay at home.

Resident and reporter Andrew Stuart filmed the goats literally going to town in the seaside neighbourhood.


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One used a hedge as a chaise-longue (Picture: PA)

Others did some gymnastics on a garden wall (Picture: PA)

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.’

I think I just got a group of goats in Llandudno arrested.



Let me explain… first, I saw this from inside a dark pub (the one I live in currently). I thought I was seeing things. So I took some video: pic.twitter.com/RtxYG6htLC — Andrew Stuart (@AndrewStuart) March 27, 2020

It’s their town now (Picture: PA)

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.’

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.

Iâve not been out for a few days but apparently goats are in charge now that seems finepic.twitter.com/XafgKrA7PG — end of daves âï¸ ð¥ ð§» (@davemacladd) March 31, 2020

The Llandudno goats are so much better with a West Side Story soundtrack.



(thanks to @AndrewStuart and the Bergamo boars) pic.twitter.com/A71FumsGNa — David Schneider (@davidschneider) March 31, 2020

Thankfully, the goats have given some joy to the world in the time of coronavirus.

‘I’ve not been out for a few days but apparently goats are in charge now. That seems fine,’ one man tweeted.

Another called them a ‘true inspiration’.

North Wales Police have been contacted for a comment.

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