FISHING couple Marlon Rushton and Angela Searson and have a new tale to tell about the one that got away...it was a cow!

Marlon and Angela, both 21, of Market Street, Church, raised the alarm when they saw it topple in the water on the opposite bank near the the Dunkenhalgh Way bridge, Church.

Angela said: "The water was to the top of its legs. "It was swimming up and down trying to get out but couldn't because of the height of the bank."

Angela ran and told nearby fisherman Ralph Lane, of Ribbleton Drive, Accrington, who jumped into his car and drove to nearby Dill Hall Farm to alert the farmer.

Firefighters and the farmer put a line around the cow and walked it along the bank to a grassy slope where they pulled it to safety in 20 minutes with the help of a head harness.

Sub officer George Mullaney, from Accrington fire, station, said: "The cow was pregnant and the farmer was concerned we got it out without bumping her around too much. I think the anglers were a little jealous...they've never caught anything as big!"

The animal was none the worse for her mishap. Farmer Malcolm Jackson said: "She's fine and I'd like to thank the fire brigade. We could not have got her out without their help."

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