Collies are highly valued by farmers across the UK for their sheep-managing skills. But one collie named Don revealed a rarer ability, after getting behind the wheel of his farmer's tractor – and causing the machine to crash onto the M74 in Scotland.

The incident took place near Abington near junction 13. Farmer Tom Hamilton, 77, was taking care of a lamb in a motorway-side field when his collie leaned on the controls of the tractor, whose cabin he was sitting in.

Don's trip ended when the tractor hit the central reservation, halting the vehicle.

Dog-gone

The machine is said to have travelled out of the field, before crashing through a fence and moving onto the carriageway.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the incident – including the four-and-a-half-year old sheepdog.

Ruff ride

Don was soon reunited with his owner after the motorway was cleared.

Mr Hamilton said: "I had not put the brake on the tractor and when I turned round I got a fright as the vehicle was careering down the hill, through a gate and onto the M74."

Traffic Scotland made local drivers aware of the incident by tweeting that a road incident had taken place “due to dog taking control of tractor”.

Police Scotland said of the incident: "At around 8.15am a farm vehicle crashed through a fence in a field and made its way onto the M74 at junction 13.

"Nobody is believed to have been injured."

While the story has inspired a plethora of canine-related puns across the Internet, the police were keen to point out that the situation could have been far more serious.