Eight sheep walk into a bar in North Yorkshire… not the start of a joke, but the surprise that greeted staff at the Blue Bell Country Inn at Arkendale last week.

Moments before dinner customers were due to arrive, a flock of eight woolly revellers wandered through the pub.

Assistant manager Hannah Parkin looked up from her paperwork and spotted the sheep looking “confused but intrigued”.

“I was shocked, I didn’t even hear them baa,” Hannah said. “I’m not really an animal person, so I felt brave shooing them out.”

The flock have become a big hit since staff shared footage of the visit online.

“My favourite comment was that we’ve always been a welcoming baaar,” said Hannah.

“The door is always open if they ever want to come back. Let’s see if they order a pint this time.”

The Blue Bell made clear the pub was “fully disinfected” before service continued.