Christmas shoppers and employees were evacuated from the store and the 90-kilo (198-pound) boar began charging at police, before falling in a hail of bullets early in the afternoon.

Just how the animal entered the shop, located in a commercial area near the city of Poitiers, remains a mystery. But three boars were spotted during the day in the region bordering the countryside, a police statement said.

The other two apparently returned to their usual habitat.

Local forest service officials believe the boars are part of a larger group they are trying to relocate which have been spotted in the region, the statement said.

Source: Wild boar scatters French Christmas shoppers: police - Yahoo! News UK

:laugh::laugh: