A TRIO of intrepid llamas that fled from their farmers' field through an open gate have been returned safe and sound.

It took between 20 to 30 dog walkers, horse riders and car drivers to herd the intrepid animals back to their home, Home Farm at about 7.30pm last night.

Steve Castle, who owns the farm, said: "We had a few laughs last night.

"We've always known where they went - they've been at the Earth's Trust.

"The trouble was there are so many exits and entrances with four people we just didn't have enough to cover all the bases.

"So we were stopping dog walkers and drivers and saying 'can you stand there?' so we could herd them back to the farm and when they saw the gate open they just charged back into the pen."

The adventure-seeking animals, one of whom is thought to be pregnant, were roaming loose in Long Wittenham near Didcot after sneaking out from their Home Farm grazing spot several days ago.

Mr Castle, whose only other llama Milo did not join the escape mission, said the lady llamas were Patches, who is white, her daughter Star who is brown, and male son Tri who is white, brown and black.

The 65-year-old added: "Milo was pleased to have them back, he chased them round the pen for a couple of minutes trying to assert his authority again.

"They've been out before but the reason why they ran away this time was because a visitor to the farm had a dog which was going for them.

"Because Milo wasn't with them to fend off the predator their instinct is just to run - which is what they did."

Patches and Milo joined the Clifton Hampden Road farm two and a half years ago after Mr Castle heard they needed a caring new home.

The llamas share the farm with a whole menagerie of animals including a giant tortoise called George, flamingos and cranes.