Commuters on Huddersfield’s busy Wakefield Road are used to traffic jams.

But yesterday’s excuse for being late was the best yet: “Sorry, I was held up by donkeys.”

The animals, more used to trotting along a beach, caused long delays for drivers between Lepton and Fenay Bridge from 7.58am to 8.30am yesterday morning.

Two of the donkeys escaped from a field and trotted down the road for several hundred yards.

Mrs Karen Britton was one of many held up.

She said: “We joined the road at Grange Moor and by the time we reached Lepton traffic was at a virtual standstill.

“I thought it must have been a broken-down lorry or something but then saw the two sets of pointed ears.

“The two donkeys were on the road, then on the pavement, then back on the road and everyone had to stop and slow down.

“It made me 45 minutes later for work but at least they weren’t hurt.”

Police confirmed they were called out at 7.58am and diverted traffic while the donkeys were rounded up.

They were returned to their owner at 8.30am.