The Pennine Way in the Yorkshire Dales

A woman was killed by a herd of cows while walking with her dogs on the Pennine Way yesterday.

The incident happened near Gayle in Wensleydale at about 12.15pm on Sunday. A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said the cows had calves with them.

She said: “A female was walking her dogs in a field along the Pennine Way near to Gayle, near Hawes when she was surrounded by a herd of cattle and calves.

“As a result of dogs being present, the cattle acted in an aggressive manner and the female received fatal injuries.”

The woman, a 49-year-old veterinary surgeon from Warrington, Cheshire, was on a weekend visit to the Dales. It is believed she was trampled by the animals and prounounced dead at the scene.

Police would like to speak to anyone who saw the woman before the incident. She is described as 1.57m (5ft 2ins) tall, of slim build, with short, greying hair and was dressed in a light coloured tee-shirt, grey trousers tucked into her socks, wearing grey walking shoes.

The dogs were a white and brown spaniel and a small, collie-type dog, one on as white lead and one on a red lead.

Witnesses are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.

The woman’s identity is not being released at present.

Experts advise that people with dogs should let them off the lead and let them fend for themselves if cattle become aggressive.