Jörgen Sandqvist was among the many drivers heading for the city centre on Saturday afternoon when the road was suddenly blocked by several camels.

But neither the camels not the drivers seemed to have had the hump about it.

“There were at least four or five of them out taking a stroll. They seemed to have all the time in the world and were moving slowly despite all the attention,” Sandqvist told tabloid Expressen.

“I could hardly believe my eyes,” he added.

The camels had managed to get out of their temporary enclosure, which Circus Olympia had set up just next to route 117 on the outskirts of Hässleholm in south Sweden.

“We have electric fences but they still managed to tear down the fence and get out. They just went for a little walk,” circus owner Henrika Bengtsson told the paper.

Long queues quickly formed on the road and soon traffic was at a standstill in both directions, with several drivers trying to get the large and seemingly oblivious animals off the road.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” said Sandqvist.

Circus Olympia had several shows in Hässleholm over the weekend. The camel troupe consists of two two-year-old females and a few older castrated males. They are part of an exotic animals’ dressage act.

“These animals are a bit mischievous,” said Bengtsson.

The five camels who went for a stroll have since returned to the circus.

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