Cow rescued from swimming pool

It is thought the cow had been in the pool for at least four hours

Firefighters have saved the life of a pregnant cow who fell into a swimming pool after straying into a garden.

The homeowner woke on Monday - her birthday - to find several cows in her garden in Andover, Hampshire, and one in the swimming pool.

It is thought they strayed into the isolated garden from a nearby field.

Firefighters cut down trees to reach the pool. A vet arrived at the property in Smannell to sedate the animal before it could be rescued.

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said 10 cows from a herd of 17 broke through a hedge from a field into the garden.

The cow had apparently been in the swimming pool for at least four hours when the alarm was raised.

The spokeswoman added: "The cow is unharmed and now back in her field but shivering a little bit."