POLICE and fire crews had an udderly difficult task ahead of them as they attempted to rescue four cows from the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest on Tuesday afternoon.

At around 2.20pm, police received reports that four cows – which were believed to have escaped from the nearby mart ground - had wandered into the river to cool off.

The combination of their heavy wet coats, and the slippy banks of the river, meant the animals were trapped in the river running alongside Morrisons supermarket.

Attempts by police and coastguards to rescue the animals were unsuccessful, at which point fire-fighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven waded in.

Firefighters used mud mats, throw lines, pulleys and rescue lines to rescue the cows and oversee the safety of the water bound officers involved in the rescue.

The animals were safely removed to a nearby field until the owners could collect them, and the crew left the scene at 6.10pm.