A WOMAN trampled to death by cows was a vet out walking with her dogs while on holiday, it has emerged.

The 49-year-old was killed by a herd of cattle on a picturesque bridleway on the Pennine Way in the Yorkshire Dales.

Police said the cows - some of which had young calves - became aggressive at the sight of the walkers dogs, a brown and white spaniel and a border collie.

The first person on the scene was a holidaymaker from Lancashire, who was staying in a cottage just yards from the field, near Gaudy House Farm, about a mile out of Gayle, near Hawes.

He and his wife said they heard a strange bellowing sound.

The man, who declined to give his name, said: "At first we thought nothing of it, but then we realised that something was not right.

"I looked outside and saw a herd of cows crowded round one area of the field.

"I knew something was wrong so I went outside, picked up a wooden post which was nearby and went to the cows and shooed them away.

"Then I saw a woman on the ground, with her head bent at an unnatural angle. I checked her vital signs, but there was no pulse."

He called the ambulance just before midday on Sunday.

Paramedics battled to save the woman's life, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cows belong to farmer Thomas Iveson, of Gayle.

They were moved from the field on Monday morning at the direction of police.

A spokeswoman for the farming family said: "We're very, very sorry.

"We don't know what happened - it was out of our control.

"There's thousands of walkers (use this route) and it's never happened before."

It is believed the woman from Warrington, Cheshire, was walking alone after leaving the nearby holiday cottage where she was staying.

The woman's dogs were unhurt and were yesterday being cared for by dog warden.

The incident is being investigated by police and the Health and Safety Executive.

Full story in tomorrow's The Northern Echo