Boy, 5, dies after car hits cow

Emergency services responded to the early morning crash on the A73

A five-year-old boy has died after the car he was travelling in hit a cow in the road and spun out of control.

The youngster was being driven by his father on the A73 through the village of Newmains, North Lanarkshire, when their Volkswagen Golf hit the animal.

Emergency services were alerted at about 0350 BST. The boy died a short time later at Wishaw General Hospital.

His father, 41, is receiving hospital treatment for minor injuries. The cow is thought to have been found dead.

Strathclyde Police said in a statement: "It appears the vehicle struck a cow which was on the roadway and the vehicle lost control."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened on the A73 close to Hershill Farm.