Cow on the loose on Irish motorway

Worried motorists took photographs of the confused beast

The motorway around Junction 5 has now been shut (Google Maps)

A cow has escaped from its enclosure and has been spotted rambling up a motorway in Ireland.

The animal, which appears to be a dairy cow, was spotted by concerned motorists on the M50 southbound between Junction 17 M11 and Junction five Bray North.

Pictures on social media showed the cow had managed to get itself across three lanes of fast moving traffic and was meandering up the central island of the motorway.

The motorway has now been closed, with motorists advised to avoid the area as authorities work to capture the animal.

Cows were recently recognised as the UK’s most deadly large animals. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently released figures showing 74 people had been killed by the animals in the past 15 years.

In comparison, dogs are responsible for just 17 deaths in the past eight years.

The HSE reissued long-standing advice to farmers to ensure cattle with calves were securely enclosed in paddocks inaccessible to the public.