RESIDENTS in a Walmersley cul-de-sac could not believe their eyes when they saw a herd of 30 cows in their front gardens.

The cattle are believed to have escaped from a field in Chesham Road on Wednesday last week and wandered over to Burrs Lea Close.

They spent around four hours in the street before their owner, a farmer from Heap Bridge, arrived to return them to the field.

One resident said: "I was at home all day and the first I knew of the cows was when I saw them looking at me through the window. It was a real surprise."

Another resident said: "I don't know how so many cows got here without being stopped on the way. There was nothing we could do except let them walk around. The children liked seeing them, but my garden is ruined now."