Seven goats led police a merry dance for an hour and a half after making a break for freedom from a farm in Worthing.

Campers, an animal expert and members of the public joined the officers as they chased the goats around Titnore Way yesterday.

The animals had broken free from a nearby smallholding and went on the rampage in Northbrook Farm Caravan Club.

They ran amok in a nearby housing estate, jumping fences, gatecrashing tennis matches and stopping traffic.

David Norton, assistant warden at the caravan club, said: "Myself and a customer chased them all over the campsite before the cavalry arrived."

Enter community support officers Charlene Hornsey and Peter Jennings, who weren't much more successful at capturing the runaways.

Then a camper had the bright idea of capturing and tethering the leader, a pregnant nanny.

Most of the others followed and were eventually rounded up and locked in a compound on the site - but not before they had damaged plants and caused traffic chaos in surrounding streets.

Chris Niall, of Worthing and District Animal Rescue, said: "They were very fast and very agile and they were giving us a great runaround."

Worthing police have contacted the goats' owner.

A spokesman said: "Inquiries will continue regarding how they got out and whether any offence has been committed."