A pensioner is seriously ill in hospital after being trampled by a herd of cows while walking his dog over fields in Teesdale at the weekend.

The victim, Tom Craggs, aged 79, is on a life support machine at Darlington Memorial Hospital after the attack at Lonton South Farm, Mickleton, on Saturday afternoon.

It is believed the cows, who had calves with them, became agitated by the presence of Mr Craggs' border collie, Pip.

Mr Craggs, who is from the Mickleton area, regularly walked his dog along the same path, a disused railway line into Middleton-in-Teesdale, however it is not known how he came to be in the field.

Irene Watson, who lives at Lonton South Farm, said: "The public footpath runs alongside the field and he never normally goes in there. When he came round he had no idea what he was doing in that field.

"We've only got two or three cows in the field. My son helped him, he was quite dazed and apparently he had a cut to the head."

Mr Craggs was taken by ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital where he was treated for head injuries and detained for observation. The following day he was transferred to the hospital's intensive care unit when his condition worsened.

Mr Craggs' dog is being cared for by Mrs Watson at the farm.

She added: "He was very worried about his dog and calmed down a lot when he was told we would take care of it.

"We couldn't see it at first but then we found it waiting for him at the end of the railway line.

"It's an awful thing to happen and you just hope he comes round, if only for the dog's sake. The poor thing's been crying and pining for him since he went."

Jack Robinson, a neighbour of Mr Cragg's, said: "I hope he's OK, I talk to him nearly every day and sometimes give him a lift to the doctors in Barnard Castle.

"He's a very independent man and likes to keep himself to himself."

Mr Craggs had been living in Australia before returning to live in Teesdale. Before moving to Mickleton nearly three years ago he lived in a caravan at Holwick.

Yesterday, a police spokesman described Mr Cragg's condition as very poorly.