A hungry pig trapped a terrified motorist in her car in an attempted food raid.

The ''big pig'' - a kunekune cross - climbed halfway into the vehicle of a parked motorist at an intersection near Aramoana yesterday afternoon, Dunedin City Council animal control officer Alister Wilden said.

''He was hungry and a person has stopped and they had some food and he's tried climbing into the car and trapped the person,'' Mr Wilden said.

The woman, parked at the intersection of Purakaunui Rd and Heyward Point Rd, was freed thanks to the quick thinking of a passer-by.

''A passer-by has grabbed the hind legs of the pig and dragged him out of the car,'' he said.

The pig then returned to his paddock, accompanied by the passer-by and without incident.

The pig weighed ''probably 150kg'', Mr Wilden said.

''He was pretty big. It would have been quite traumatic for the woman involved.''

The incident was initially reported as a ''wild boar attacking people'' but this pig's tale was not as curly as was first thought. That report ''wasn't quite true'', Mr Wilden said.

The owners of the tame yet hungry pig were not home but Mr Wilden had left a note, asking them to contact him.

''It must be pig day,'' he said.

''I have picked up another pig in Middleton Rd - a wee piglet.''

The tan and black ''wee wild pig'' was wandering the road yesterday morning and taken by animal control for safe keeping.

''Hopefully, we will find the owner of that one as well,'' he said.

If you have lost a piglet near Middleton Rd, you can contact DCC animal control on 477 4000.