I HOPE the man trampled by cows (The Hunts Post, September 22) makes a speedy recovery – there but for the grace of God go I, as I use the Ouse Valley Way on St Neots Common a lot.

I HOPE the man trampled by cows (The Hunts Post, September 22) makes a speedy recovery – there but for the grace of God go I, as I use the Ouse Valley Way on St Neots Common a lot.

This has been an accident waiting to happen for years and needs to be sorted out. The man could have died.

Look how St Neots has grown and is still growing. How can cows be allowed to graze under law when, hundreds of years later, we have the Human Rights Act, health and safety legislation and the Right to Roam Act. We live in 2010, not 1510.

All of us use the common – moorings for river boats, fishermen, small night tents for travellers and, for my part, a long-distance footpath and circular walk.

I have seen the state of a dead body that has been trampled by cows. Twice I have been challenged by cows. This is why I carry a stick – a clout across the nose works wonders.

There is lots of grassland around St Neots: the common does not have to be used for cows.

At around this time of year, the common cow population starts to increase. The new cows do not bond and decide to separate into two herds – an extra problem for walkers and dogs trying to get through the kissing-gate with a herd of cows eyeballing you from two feet away.

As a former long-distance footpath walker, who has walked most of the British Isles, I have had many problems with cows and treat them with respect.

It had been my belief that cows and calves – plus bulls – are not allowed in any field where there is a footpath. If so, what are the authorities going to do about who is responsible and who deserves to get sued for not doing their job of protecting the taxpayers of this beautiful county.

Mrs L B BURGESS

Murrell Close

St Neots