Overgrown Australian sheep Chris 'breaks world record'

Chris the sheep was spotted wandering about outside of Canberra, the capital of Australia

An overgrown Australian sheep named Chris has set a new unofficial world record following a hair cut from five sheep shearers.

Animal welfare groups warned it risked death because it was so woolly from living in the wild for several years.

More than 40kg of wool was removed in what the RSPCA says is the heaviest amount of wool cut from one shearing.

National shearing champion Ian Elkins was urgently called in on Wednesday to tackle the mammoth merino.

Kangaroos outside Canberra are dwarfed by the woolliest sheep in the world

Champion sheep shearer Ian Elkins described removing Chris's wool as one of his biggest challenges, saying he had never seen anything like it in 35 years of work

The difference a day makes: Removing the excess wool cut Chris's weight in half

Spring clean: Chris's world-record breaking wool is weighed

New do: Australian sheep Chris shows off a lighter look

Lightening the load: More than 40kg of wool was cut from Chris's tiny frame