Cows rescued from slurry pit near Tolpuddle in Dorset

The animals were trapped for a couple of hours after falling through an inspection cover at a farm east of Dorchester, according to the fire service. 

Fire crews from Dorchester and specialist technical rescue teams from Weymouth and Poole were called to help the cows.

The cows were in the pit for a couple of hours before being rescued (Image: Dorchester Fire Station)

Firefighters were lowered into the pit to attach strops to the cows who were then lifted out with the help of farming equipment.

The incident took place at a farm near Tolpuddle, with firefighters called at around 12.40pm on Thursday.

A spokesperson from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "Fire crews from Dorchester and specialist technical rescue teams from Weymouth and Poole assisted in rescuing six cows from an underground slurry pit on a farm near Water Barn Track.

"The farmer reported that they had been trapped for a couple of hours after falling through an inspection cover. With the help of farm machinery and using animal rescue strops, all six cows were safely rescued from their predicament. "

Firefighters were lowered into the pit to put strops on the cows (Image: Dorchester Fire Station)

Cows being lifted from the pit (Image: Dorchester Fire Station)

A spokesperson for Dorchester Fire Station said: "At approximately 12.40pm a crew from Dorchester and two animal rescue teams from Poole Fire Station and Weymouth Fire Station were mobilised to reports of six cows trapped in an underground slurry pit.

"Once in attendance, crews got to work by sending two personnel into the pit to attach strops around the cows and with the help from farm machinery we were able to safely remove the cows.

"Throughout this incident, we had gas monitors in the pit to make sure there were no dangerous gases present."

Two crew members had to be lowered into the pit (Image: Dorchester Fire Station)