FIREFIGHTERS used a farmer s Land Rover to rescue a cow after it became stranded in a muddy ditch. Crews from St Neots fire station were called to the incident at just after noon on Friday after a dog walker heard the distressed animal splashing around i

FIREFIGHTERS used a farmer's Land Rover to rescue a cow after it became stranded in a muddy ditch.

Crews from St Neots fire station were called to the incident at just after noon on Friday after a dog walker heard the distressed animal splashing around in the ditch.

When firefighters arrived at the ditch, on St Neots Common, they found the cow had collapsed from exhaustion and its head was submerged in the mud.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "The animal was clearly very tired and was only just conscious. It is unclear how long it had been in the ditch but he had been trapped there for at least a few hours."

After an unsuccessful attempt to lift the cow using strops, the 4x4 was used to pull the cow to safety.

The county's fire service has rescued 57 animals between April and September this year.

The most unusual incidents have included a dog with its leg stuck inside a table, a cat trapped in a car engine and a dog stuck in a ditch.