Free MoD cliff rescue for bullock

The helicopter winched the bullcok to safety in a net

The Ministry of Defence has waived its fee for rescuing a bullock which fell 100ft (30m) over a cliff in Cornwall.

The RSPCA had agreed to pay thousands of pounds for a RNAS Culdrose helicopter to airlift the Charolais to safety at Gwennap Head.

The animal had plunged over the cliff edge near Land's End on Monday, ending up uninjured but trapped on a ledge above the sea.

But an MoD spokesman said the rescue was "factored into routine training".

RSPCA inspector Paul Kempson and vet Steve Philp abseiled down to the bullock and administered a sedative injection, before the unconscious animal was moved into a net.

This was a textbook rescue which went extremely well Ch Insp Neil Thomas, RSPCA

It was then hooked up to the helicopter and winched to safety.

The animal was then lowered to a secure field about half a mile away where it was examined by the vet who was happy with its condition.

RSPCA Ch Insp Neil Thomas said: "This was a textbook rescue which went extremely well and we are very grateful to everybody from the fire service, coastguard and RNAS Culdrose who made it possible as well as the vet."

The bullock has a few minor scratches from the initial fall and has lost some weight, but is otherwise in good condition.

The MoD had initially quoted the RSPCA a fee of £3,000 per hour for the military resuce.

The charity was "disappointed" at being charged, but "agreed to pay because our remit is to prevent suffering," RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said.

She said the RSPCA was delighted by the MoD's change of heart, because the only alternative would have been to put the animal down.