SOME 16 potentially dangerous wild boar were still on the loose in the countryside around Bridport on Thursday.

They are part of a herd of 30 which escaped from Mapperton Farm at the weekend.

One has already been shot after it charged a woman who had to fight it off with a pitchfork.

Wild boar are the largest mammals in Britain. They grow up to 1metre high and can weigh 150kg. When cornered they can attack and can cause serious injury with their tusks.

Experts have warned the public not to approach them but police are anxious to reassure people and say there is no cause for alarm.

The wild boar are owned by Mr Joe Lintell who breeds them for meat. He holds a dangerous animals licence which means he has to be capable of managing the equivalent of a tiger. The boar got out despite 7ft high fencing and since the weekend there have been more than 50 sightings of them.

Nursing sister Annabelle Jackman, 59, of Spick Hatch, West Milton, who keeps a horse and donkey on her smallholding, told how she came face to face with one.

"It charged over to the fence, hit the fence and rebounded off that and came straight for me," she said.

Mrs Jackman said she ran into the barn and watched in horror as the boar charged her animals.

"It seemed to go for the donkey more than the horse and she kicked out in no uncertain terms and I think that probably put the wild boar off," she said.

Her husband Brian, 68, a wildlife expert and journalist, said: "They are hugely powerful animals. With its snout it lifted the whole fence and went in under."

Mrs Jackman said wild boar were certainly dangerous if cornered and capable of ripping people open with their tusks. But like many animals they would rather flee than fight. And this herd was used to being handled by the farmer and so were more tame.

"I think these poor things are confused and trying to find their way home for their next meal. Provided no humans get in the way I don't think they will pose a huge threat," she added.

So far around a dozen of the wild boar have returned to the farm.

Yesterday as the hunt to round up the remainder continued locals were asking why police had failed to issue any warnings.

A police spokesman told The News that such escapes had happened before.

"They are not that dangerous and will shy away from man unless cornered," he added.