AN escaped cow wreaked havoc in Whitefield before it was shot dead by a police marksman.

The animal on the way to the slaughterhouse had burst free from a truck, at junction 17 of the M60 before running amok through roads, a golf course and nearby school.

Truck driver Robin Glyn Williams (28), of Gwynedd, North Wales, appeared before Bury magistrates and was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to allowing an animal to escape from his vehicle and to not being in possession of an animal transport certificate.

He was on his way from Anglesey to an abattoir in York on July 7 last year, when the cow dislodged the back door of the vehicle. In his wing mirror he saw the cow escaping from his vehicle.

But before the defendant could stop the animal, it had got off the M60 and onto the grounds of Whitefield golf course via Beech Avenue and Laburnum Avenue. It went into the grounds of Philips High School, in Park Lane, then back to the golf course.

Police were called, and made a number of unsuccessful attempts to catch the cow. When the animal became distressed, it was shot by a police marksman.

Mr James Parry, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was able to produce the animal passport, but not the transport certificate. He said he would usually fill them in when he got home because they got dirty in the truck."

Self-employed Williams said he had considered giving up his business. Mr Anthony Shimmin, defending, said: "The defendant said that this particular animal was being difficult during the journey. The animal was skittish in the transport and it may have caught the release bar by accident. He said it would be a million to one chance that this would happen."

"This incident traumatised Mr Williams. He has spent the last four years running his own business. He just didn't have the required pieces of paper. His vehicle was very closely checked and was found to be in good order."

Magistrates fined Williams £500 for each offence and ordered him to pay £117.50 compensation and £1,100.50 costs.