Sussex Police said it was alerted to ‘cattle on the carriageway’ on Yapton Road, on Wednesday (April 15). The report came in around 5.30pm.
Resident Mark Lyons saw the incident as it unfolded. The driving instructor shared photos and video footage with the Bognor Regis Observer.
He said: “It's probably the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. I was absolutely gobsmacked.
"I was at my desk and I saw something out the corner of my eye – it was a massive cow.
"I looked again and there were 30 cows – and a bull. I just grabbed my phone and started recording, thinking that maybe it was a local farmer bringing them through, changing the fields.
"But they were just roaming the streets. They were trotting away and heading towards the A259, at Comet Corner.
"Me and my neighbour decided to take charge. We just basically herded them, using our hands, whilst shouting out and whistling. We managed to trap them into this little car park and then the police arrived. They had three or four calls in about it.
"We blocked and barricaded them in until the farmer arrived.”
The police said that officers attended the scene to keep both motorists and the four-legged escapees safe.
A police spokesperson said: “Officers attended the location to ensure public safety and contacted the landowners.
"The cattle were subsequently returned safely to their farm.”
Police confirmed there were ‘no reports of any injuries’.
5. Police restore order after cattle caused a stir
A herd of cows took a stroll down a residential road in Middleton-on-Sea – prompting an unusual call-out for police officers. Photo: Mark Lyons