A BULL had to be rescued from muddy ditch in Cumbria.

Multi agency working from the RSPCA and fire service to free the un-moo-va-bull animal in Great Urswick.

Fortunately the exhausted Dexter bull was able to be freed at 9.30pm last Tuesday (14) the animal welfare group said today.

RSPCA inspector Will Lamping said: "He’d managed to get himself stuck in the ditch, which was really muddy.

"Dexter bulls have small legs and he was completely shattered so he just couldn’t get himself out.

"The cows were on the other side of the ditch so I think he was trying to get to them.

"When the fire service arrived, they got a strap around his neck and put a tarpaulin over the river bank, then hauled him out using man power."

"It was a bit shaken but happily the ordeal didn’t seem to have affected him too badly," said inspector Lamping.

"I’d like to say a big thank you to the fire service for all they did to help."