Pile-up as cow strays on motorway

A cow caused a pile-up involving about seven cars when it strayed on to a motorway in West Lothian.

Motorists escaped with minor injuries after it wandered onto the northbound carriageway of the M9 near Winchburgh at about 2140 BST on Tuesday.

Police said the cow was struck by a car, causing the animal to be thrown over the central reservation.

A further seven cars struck the cow on the southbound carriageway, causing damage to several of them.

Fire and ambulance services attended the accident and the road was closed for about two hours.

Sgt David Gray, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "The people had a pretty lucky escape. Unfortunately the animal did not."