CHRISTMAS shoppers reacted with shock on Friday, when a wild boar was spotted in Tavistock town centre. The alarm was raised around noon when a woman came into Robertson's Organic Café, Pepper Street, warning customers that a wild boar was at the top of the road on Barley Market Street. Customers from the café and surrounding shops came out to witness the wild animal while it stood motionless for around five minutes. Sally Robertson from the café said: 'It was standing at the top of the road — I thought it was a stuffed animal.' Seth Robertson, proprietor of the café, said: 'A woman came in and shouted that there was a wild boar outside and we should call the police. Everyone went out of the shop to have a look. It had no tusks and it looked like a really big dog. 'It looked placid, it didn't look frightened — then it trotted off at a pace up the hill out of town.' But while this boar was sited, a large group of similar wild animals was seen in Crowndale Road around the same time. Police were informed of the incident by local residents and were soon on the scene. PC Andy Paxman said it was quite an 'amazing sight' to see such animals so close in the town. 'We had had several reports of wild boar on the roads. The first sighting was on Old Exeter Road, at the back of Kelly College, then on Parkwood Road, at the front of Kelly College, and also a further sighting of a large group, ten in number, on Crowndale Road. 'We didn't see them on Crowndale Road but we did on Old Exeter Road — we believe the animal sighted on Old Exeter Road was the same animal which was sighted on Parkwood Road and may have gone through the college. 'People should treat them with caution — they can have the potential to get slightly aggressive.' Paul Wynne, of Natural England, said the Tavistock sighting was 'quite unique'. Mr Wynne said: 'It's fascinating — without a doubt, as far as I know, this sort of sighting has never been experienced before in the South West. 'It's remarkable. We do know in general wild boar numbers are increasing and we have had the coldest weather this year for the last week, so maybe they've been tempted in towards town because of that. 'Wild boar are quite common on Dartmoor, but to come into a town, like Tavistock, is fascinating, and quite unique.' Mr Wynne said there were 'very few' cases of wild boar attacking humans but in general terms, he said that if sighted, people should stay away from the animals. 'The local police are the first point of call — as a last resort they can arrange for a marksman to come and stun the animal,' he said. Mr Wynne said at this time of year there were unlikely to be piglets involved, but wild boar were more dangerous if they were protecting young, and anyone spotting one, if they had dogs with them, should keep them on a lead. Natural England is monitoring sightings and collecting data regarding movements of wild boar — anyone who can help is asked to go to the website at [email protected]&quot">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]&quot">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]