Swimming pool rescue for bullock

RSPCA officers entered the pool to help calm the animal

A bullock caused chaos after it broke through a fence and ended up in the shallow end of a private swimming pool in south Wales.

The fire service, police, RSPCA inspectors and council officials were despatched when the one-year-old animal went for a dip in the back garden of the house in Trinant near Newport.

He was winched to safety just over an hour later by firefighters.

But not before he had caused an estimated £2,000 damage to the pool.

Around 10 other cattle were grazing in the garden during the incident on Friday.

He was swimming around the shallow end so he definitely earned his 50m badge Leanne Jones

Resident Leanne Jones, 28, returned from work after her mother called, frantic about the unwanted guest in the pool.

"We were very, very shocked to see him there. We think he was there for a few hours all together.

"He was swimming around the shallow end so he definitely earned his 50m badge. I think half of the village turned up to see it all."

She said that the bullock fell through the solar cover of the pool and may also have damaged the cover roller.

'Quite happy'

Ms Jones added: "After we have drained the pool we will be able to see if the lining of the pool is damaged, which could cost anything up to £5,000 if it has to be replaced."

Hose lines were used to help pull the animal out

She added: "My mother was very shocked. She was crying and panicking when I phoned her but now she is having a bit of a giggle about it. She said if she didn't laugh she would only cry."

Abercarn station officer Derwyn Jones said he had never dealt with an incident like it in his 31 years with the fire service.

"We've dealt with sheep, horses and dogs in swimming pools but never cows or bullocks.

"Between us all we managed to get the bullock out quite easily...he looked quite happy in there."

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "Very often we get calls about cows going into rivers or falling down cliffs but this is highly unusual".