Farmer to pay out £5,000 after friends climbed tree to escape cow attack

A farmer has been ordered to pay out over £5,000 after a woman and her friend had to climb a tree to escape a cow attack.

Janicke Tvedt and David Hood managed to avoid an attack by more than a dozen cows on a public right of way in North Yorkshire.

The farmer responsible, Martin Falshaw, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a result.

The friends had set out on a popular circular walk from Masham with pet Labrador Goose, who was on his lead, in July 2021.

Part of their walk took them across the fields and public rights of way near Shaws Farm, located near Ripon.

After entering a field off Foxholme Lane, the pair noticed several cattle in a field the path cut across, including cows with calves, so decided to give them a wide berth, passing through a narrow opening in a hedge.

However, as they did, they then spotted a lone cow with two calves, and within seconds their dog was attacked.

Although they all managed to get away, they were soon cornered by other cows and 57-year-old Ms Tvedt was knocked to the ground and trampled.