Town forced to hire shepherd after sheep block roads and eat flowers

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER Published: 08:29 BST, 1 June 2026 | Updated: 08:31 BST, 1 June 2026

A South Wales town has set out to find a shepherd to manage rogue sheep who have blocked roads, eaten garden flowers and grazed in a cemetery.Blaenavon, a Unesco World Heritage Site, has seen sheep run amok after councillors said vandals cutting fences on the surrounding hills to drive quad bikes were letting the animals go free.Sheep have been seen wandering the streets and disrupting traffic after escaping from nearby fields.Nick Horler, an independent councillor on Torfaen Borough Council, said he was concerned for the animals' welfare, asking: 'Is it now time to reinstate a shepherd to ease the current concerns raised by many of our community?'He added loose sheep were a 'massive issue' that endangered the animals, who have also been spotted eating garden flowers and grazing in a cemetery.Janet Jones, another independent councillor, said a shepherd was necessary for sheep's welfare.'The commoners are repairing their fences but then offroaders, and sometimes walkers, go and break them again,' she said, adding: 'People need to be educated.'Mandy Owen, a Labour councillor, said a 'ranger role' could be filled. Sheep have been spotted blocking roads in the South Wales town of Blaenavon The town, a Unesco World Heritage Site at the foot of the Brecon Beacons, is set to turn to a shepherd to keep the animals under control It has been suggested the sheep are running free as vandals cut through fences penning them in to drive quad bikes off-roadShe said: 'Through the Blaenavon World Heritage Partnership the council is leading work to explore introducing a new ranger role to support day to day management, coordination and communication in relation to straying of stock and wider common land issues.'This proposal is dependent on partner organisations contributing funding.'Mr Horler previously said neighbours in the town had been terrorised by a stray ram whose owner couldn't be identified.Blaenavon was a thriving hub during the industrial revolution with coal mines and iron works and is now a popular tourist spot at the foot of the Brecon Beacons.