The Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland has been shut down by a weasel.

The world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator was knocked out of action when a beech marten, a member of the weasel family, caused a short circuit on a high-voltage transformer by chewing through the wiring.

Scientists at the nuclear research centre say it will take a few days to repair the damage.

Sadly the animal didn't survive its encounter with the 66-kilovolt transformer.