Cumbria firemen rescue confused cow from tree

A cow had to be rescued by firemen in Cumbria yesterday after it fell down an embankment and became stuck in a tree.

The 300kg cow was discovered by its owner, Philip Armstrong, who noticed it was missing from his farm in Sheriff Park, Penrith.

The 11-month-old shorthorn heifer called Sparkle had to be sedated by vets before being winched to safety. The animal had fallen 100ft before becoming trapped in the sapling.

Mr Armstrong said that the animal had been left "sore and bruised" by the ordeal, but was otherwise unharmed. "It was a happy ending to a very stressful afternoon," Mr Armstrong's mother, Sandra, said.