Report by

MHARI KELLY

EIGHT 'runaway' cows were returned to their owner after spending two days on an industrial estate behind the Farmer's Arms, Rudheath.

The animals arrived at the site on Sunday and police set out to trace their owner.

But it was two days before a nearby firm found the farmer, who hadn't realised that his cattle were missing!

Businesses nearby were worried that the animals had been dumped.

Alec Ashworth, of Ash Skip Hire, said: "There's hardly any grass here and it couldn't have been good for them near to where we have skips.

"I got on to the RSPCA and the police but nothing was done about it.

"Then today (Tuesday) a farmer came to collect the cows. They were escapees, they hadn't been dumped.

"It's a good job he came because they were starting to look a bit skinny. It was a shame.

"I'm just glad that they're safe now and back with their owner."

The cows had escaped from Newhall Farm in Lach Dennis.

Their owner, farmer Jeremy Newhall, said: "I don't know how they got out. It's a mystery. They must have got into the canal and swam across.

"I think something must have scared them - a dog or firework maybe, I'll never know.

"I put them in the field on Saturday. And thankfully, a building contractor rang me to ask if I'd lost any cows. I went straight away to check if they were mine and discovered that they were.

"They're all back safe and sound at home now."

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