Firefighters had to dig out a cow and pull it free after it got stuck in a bog.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 7.10am yesterday by two bird watchers who discovered the cow at Woolmer Common, Bordon, Hampshire.

Animal rescue specialist Buster Brown attended the scene along with three fire crews who had to reach the cow on foot because it was away from the nearest road.

Mr Brown explained it was necessary to dig away part of the wet bog land to give the cow some grip before it was pulled free.

He said: ''It appeared the heifer had become detached from its herd and was grassing in the wet bog area when it slipped into a ditch filled with water.

''The animal's hind legs had sunk into the wet peat and it was unable to get out on its own.

''After a short period of pulling the animal was removed from the bog and allowed to rest.

''It was then pulled further away from the bog to good ground where it was placed in the recumbent position, in-line on its belly. At this time the animal appeared to become more alert.''

A fire service spokesman said the RSPCA were also at the scene and a vet administered medication and analgesia to enable the animal to recover from its ordeal.