YOUNG farmhands sparked off rush-hour chaos in Altham when they tried to herd nearly 100 sheep along a main road.

Traffic was held up in either direction along Burnley Road, around 7.30am today, as three agricultural workers attempted to shepherd the flock along Burnley Road towards Simonstone.

Vehicles slowed to a crawl as the sheep strayed into traffic, while being taken along a grass verge on the outskirts of Altham Business Park.

One of the farmhands tried to hold up cars as a colleague on a quad bike chased stragglers and a third used a sheepdog to prevent them escaping into the business park.