A SHEEP’S escape bid went hilariously wrong after it ended up trapped in a cattle grid.

The ram was found with all four legs stuck between the metal slats, staring wistfully at freedom just a few feet away.

The not-so-crafty animal managed to make it across most of the 8-ft wide “hoof-proof” metal grid in Angus before getting trapped.

It was found by fencing contractor Lee Hampton up on Hunthill Estate, near Brechin, and was “quite happily sitting there” when he came across it.

It took three fully-grown men to rescue the animal. Unfortunately for the ram, it was placed back on the right side of the grid.

29-year-old Lee said: “It was just happily sitting there as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t making any noise or struggling, just quietly staring out towards the other side.

“We managed to lift it out and placed it back in the field. It casually sauntered off and we later saw it grazing near the grid.

“Thankfully it wasn’t injured at all. I’ve got no idea how long it had been sat like that for.”

Lee uploaded a picture of the sheep’s predicament onto social media, where it received over 1,000 “likes” in 12 hours.

Fiona Mckillop wrote: “That’s such a shame, but so funny too.”

Thomas Cook added: “Looks a bit sheepish.”

Pammy McMahon joked: “Looks like a mop without a handle.”

One person even superimposed the words “Baaaaaaa-stard” onto a copy of the picture.