A cow stuck in mud was safely reunited with her calf in a delicate five-hour operation.

The specialist animal rescue unit based at Faversham fire station was called to the cow on Chetney Marshes, off Raspberry Hill Lane, Iwade, near Sittingbourne, at 5am on Tuesday.

Watch manager Ian West, said: “We were called by the farmer because the cow was up to her shoulders in mud on a small island. It was extremely difficult terrain for our Uni-Mog to travel across but with its fat tyres we safely made it and used the attached stabilisers and crane to gently winch her out after having dug out some of the mud.

“We had to very careful lifting her because a cow has four stomachs. We have to learn about all sorts of animals in our specialist training.

“We had to lift and drag the cow in the five-hour long operation but it was all worth while when we were eventually able to safely reunite her with her calf – and the farmer was also very grateful.”