A major road was closed by police in both directions after a “large number” of reindeer wandered in front of traffic.

Police were called to the scene, on the A11 near Barton Mills in Suffolk, at around 3.20pm on Sunday.

National Highways East said no traffic had been able to pass due to the “large number” of the animals on the road and added that police had been “trying to catch them”.

The reindeer eventually left the road at around 5.20pm and it was reopened shortly afterwards, officials said.

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In an update on X, formerly Twitter, National Highways East confirmed police closed the A11 “in both directions between A1134 and A1101”.

There are not thought to be any wild reindeer in England and it is unclear where the animals came from.

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