THE A47 between Wisbech and Guyhirn has been closed for three hours while police tried to catch a Rottweiler on the loose. Police were called shortly after 11am, with the Rottweiler running close to the A47 between the Cromwell Road roundabout and the Guy

THE A47 between Wisbech and Guyhirn has been closed for three hours while police tried to catch a Rottweiler on the loose.

Police were called shortly after 11am, with the Rottweiler running close to the A47 between the Cromwell Road roundabout and the Guyhirn roundabout.

Reports had also been received of the dog attacking a couple of members of the public, causing grazes.

A dog warden is at the scene, and a police dog handler was flown in by helicopter to catch the loose animal.

The Rottweiler, which is not wearing a collar or lead, has now been fed two doses of sedatives and is being retrieved by the dog warden.

A police spokeswoman said: "The dog was running across fields and officers were hoping to get close to feed and catch it - but it ran off.

"We gave the dog two sedative tablets portioned in food, placed in bowls in the road. The second of the portions has knocked it out.

"At points the dog was running close to the A47 and causing a problem for traffic, so at noon the road was closed because we were concerned an accident might happen."

The Rottweiler will be taken to a vet to be checked. The A47 is set to reopen soon.