Hundreds of escaped sheep were pictured blocking a bypass in the early hours of the morning - after a country gate was left open.br br Around 220 pregnant ewes were spotted on the A-road after they escaped.br br Farmer Edward Albutt says he got a call around 3am on Sunday telling him half his flock were blocking the A38 bypass, in Gloucestershire.br br He told the BBC: "Thankfully no traffic was coming at the time, because it could have been catastrophic.''br br The sheep were returned safely after an hour of herding.