MP Blunkett injured in cow attack

Mr Blunkett was injured by the cow while out walking on his 62nd birthday

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett is recovering after being injured by a charging cow in Derbyshire.

The incident happened on Saturday while the Sheffield MP was out walking on his 62nd birthday with his guide dog Sadie in the Peak District.

It is believed the cow ran at the dog and while trying to protect her, the blind MP fell and was trampled.

He suffered a broken rib and "painful bruising" but was declared well enough to attend a Labour Party meeting later.

Mr Blunkett told BBC Radio 5 Live's Drive programme that the incident gave him a new insight into Labour's problems.

"I am almost a metaphor, I'm afraid, for what is going on in politics, I have a broken rib and am bruised all over but am still walking.

"I just hope I can manage to get into the meeting tonight!"

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The MP for Sheffield Brightside will attend a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party later when it is expected Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be grilled about his future.

Alison Pratt, from the National Farmers' Union, gave the following advice to others should they find themselves in a similar position.

"The best thing to do is to let the dog off the lead so it can run away because obviously a dog can run faster than you," she said.

"The next thing to do is to get quite quickly to the edge of the field, collect the dog and leave."