VIDEO A FURIOUS farmer has today issued a dire warning to vandals who have repeatedly let his bull out to roam around an Ipswich estate.Onyx the bull has been let out five times since Monday, only to be found wandering around the Whitton estate and his owner Keith Wright has warned that someone could be seriously hurt.

A FURIOUS farmer has today issued a dire warning to vandals who have repeatedly let his bull out to roam around an Ipswich estate.

Onyx the bull has been let out five times since Monday, only to be found wandering around the Whitton estate and his owner Keith Wright has warned that someone could be seriously hurt.

The three-quarter of a tonne bull has been known to charge at shiny cars when he sees his own reflection.

And he added that if the bull should be hit by a car, not only would the animal be hurt, but it would be like driving into a brick wall.

The stark message comes after a spate of incidents in the last week where troublemakers have opened the gate or cut the fence to the field.

Mr Wright, 66, a farmer at The Stables in Thurleston Lane said: “If he is let out, the dangers for him are out on the road, and if someone were to hit him, it would be like going into a brick wall.

“If only these people realised the risk they were taking for themselves and others as he is classified as a dangerous animal.

“The bull uses its head in fights, and if you've got this bull weighing three-quarters of a tonne coming towards you, you'd certainly end up with a lot of broken bones.

“He is docile but could get stirred up quickly as he is not use to seeing cars. If people keep letting him out, they must accept the consequences of what could happen.”

“Although he is docile, he is still a bull and can be temperamental if there are lots of strangers around.”

Kieron Adams, manager of the RSPCA animal centre at Martlesham, said: “Bulls are likely to panic in heavy traffic, and if it gets hit, it will be running around in pain, which makes it even more dangerous.

“You would have to be very careful as it could easily cause damage to people and property when it is in that state. If it got on the dual carriageway, it doesn't bear thinking about. You have to treat it with respect because they are big animals.”

Reverend Andrew Dotchin, vicar of the Whitton parish, said: “I was walking down Defoe Road on Tuesday night at 10.45pm and saw police officers escorting a bull up the street.

“People coming out of the pub must have been thinking they had had too much to drink.

“The bull seemed very unconcerned and was just munching on some roses. It is one of those surreal things.”

If anyone has any information about these break-ins, they should call Pc Emma Lucas at Ipswich police station on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Have you faced the bull as it roamed free? Have you been targeted by troublemakers? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

TIMELINE

Monday 10.30pm - barbed wire to the fence in the field was cut, then overnight the bull, which was secured in the stable, was let out.

Tuesday Onyx let out three more times. Vandals managed to break the lock to the stable.

He was let out three more times and metal scaffold poles have now been attached to the stable door to prevent further incidents.