A farmer says one of his cows is lucky to be alive after being viciously mauled by a dog.

The animal was attacked on the Hambrook Marshes in Canterbury, where Will Hamilton grazes about 30 cattle in the picturesque riverside setting.

He received a call to say the cow had been seen with a badly-wounded neck and a dog running loose in the field.

Warning: graphic image below

Mr Hamilton dashed to the site from his main farm in High Halden in Ashford and found the injured cow needed urgently veterinary attention.

The animal had to be stitched up and put on a course of antibiotics. Mr Hamilton, who run the farm with his wife Katherine, said: “The animal was in a bad way and the vet said there was no doubt it was a bite wound – you could see how it had torn the skin down to the muscle.

“He reckoned we could have lost her if she hadn’t got treatment quickly.

“It is rare for a cow to be attacked by a dog; they will either run away or try and defend themselves.

“But with the report of the dog running loose and the vet’s verdict, it seems to have been what happened and was very distressing for the animal.

“It has also landed us with a vet’s bill of around £500.

“Obviously, we are concerned it doesn’t happen again and would urge anyone who sees a dog in the field to call us immediately, on 01233 822084 or 07789 933781. The numbers are posted on the gates to the field.”

Police confirmed they had received a report from a member of the public of a dog attacking a cow in the area shortly after 8.34pm on May 14, but when officers arrived there was no sign of the dog or injured animal.

Anyone with information should call them on 01843 222289, quoting ref 14-1250.