FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue cows stuck in a slurry pit.

Just before 5.30am on Saturday, crews were called to help some the animals which had become trapped.

Crews from Carlisle East and West stations, along with on-call firefighters from Wigton were given the dirty job.

A spokesman for Carlisle East said: "At about 5.25am, appliances from Carlisle East, Carlisle West, and Wigton, were mobilised to reports of cows stuck in a slurry pit, at a farm near to Biglands.

"In attendance, crews discovered that four cows had fallen about two metres through the entrance to a slurry pit, and were stuck below ground.

"Crews utilised farm machinery to remove the slurry from the pit, and all four cows were successfully brought to safety by specially trained animal rescue technicians, using animal rescue straps and a farm tele-handler."