Curiosity gets the cow in a spin

The cow's plight was spotted by a member of the public

A curious cow got more than she bargained for after investigating an object which had mysteriously arrived in her field.

When the heifer tried to get a closer look, she got her head stuck in a dumped washing machine drum.

RSPCA inspectors were called out to the farm at Higher Fraddon in St Columb, Cornwall, to free her.

Despite the ordeal the cow was uninjured, but the animal charity has warned of the dangers of fly-tipping.

The frustrated animal was spotting trying to free herself from the metal drum by a member of the public.

She probably thought there was some food inside the drum Jo Barr, RSPCA

"It is one of the more unusual things we have had to rescue an animal from," RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said.

"Young cows are quite curious, and she probably thought there was some food inside the drum."

David Hobbs, the inspector who rescued the heifer, said it highlighted the fact that fly-tipped rubbish was not only a blight on the visual landscape, but also endangered animals.

"The heifer was probably curious to see a new item dumped in the field and curiosity would have turned to panic once she got her head stuck in the drum and was unable to get it out," he said.

The charity said a large proportion of the injuries inspectors are called to deal with are caused by carelessly discarded rubbish and fishing litter.