Update: Final cow found dead following seven-hour standoff which saw marksmen shoot two escaped cows in Norwich

Police at the juction of Ipswich Road and Marston Lane. The last cow is believed to be in Danby Wood, off Marston Lane. Archant

Police marksmen shot two runaway cows during a long hunt as last night’s storms raged - with a third cow found dead this morning.

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Carcass of one of the cows shot by police in Danby Woods. Photo: Bill Smith Carcass of one of the cows shot by police in Danby Woods. Photo: Bill Smith

The hunt for the animals saw the A140 Ipswich Road closed from about 5pm on Saturday to just after 12.30am on Sunday, with a police helicopter brought in to help the search.

An overnight tweet from @NorfolkPolice said: “In interests of public safety two distressed cows roaming free are destroyed by trained firearms police in Norwich.”

A police spokesman said they were shot at about 7pm, leaving a third cow in Danby Wood, which borders Marston Lane and the A140.

Two shots were heard coming from the woodland just after 10,30pm, but police at the scene said the cow escaped. Following the shooting, it was described as “very angry” and “particularly motivated”.

Ipswich Road returned to normal on Sunday morning after a seven-hour cow versus police stand off the night before Ipswich Road returned to normal on Sunday morning after a seven-hour cow versus police stand off the night before

Ipswich Road was re-opened at 12.30am, and a police officer said the situation was now “considered safe”, but was unable to say what had happened to the last remaining escapee.

Police said the third cow was found dead on Morston Lane this morning. It had been shot.

Speaking earlier, a Norfolk Constabulary spokesman said: “Police received reports from members of the public of a cow loose on the A140 Ipswich Road of Norwich, in area of the Holiday Inn, at about 5pm on Saturday, October 10. A short while later it was established that a further two cows were also free in the road.

“To manage the situation and in the interests of public safety and the large volume of traffic in the area, a stretch of Ipswich Road between Locksley Road and Hall Road was closed while officers attempted to safely retrieve the animals. Marston Lane was also closed.

“Despite the best efforts of police officers, and in fading light, they were unable to calm the creatures which were becoming increasingly distressed and erratic in their behaviour. Two of the cows were located in a wooded area. In the interests of public safety, once police had consulted with the farmer who owned the animals, the pair were destroyed by trained firearms officers.”

Police initially said they were treating it as a “managed incident” after they had moved one of the cows into a “secure area”, and were waiting for its owner to recover it.

However, they later extended the road closure further down Ipswich Road towards the A47, and also closed Hall Road.

The search was hampered by a heavy thunder and lightning storm at about 6.30pm, which one cattle owner who was helping police said may have “stirred it up”, making its capture more difficult.

One person who lives near the scene said: “I heard there’s a cow on the loose.” Talking about the road block, he said: “It’s a bit much for a cow.”

Police said they are looking into how the cows escaped.