A PENSIONER was given the shock of her life as she sat down to enjoy a cup of tea in her conservatory.

June Hayes, aged 86, was startled by a large black cow roaming past her window, followed by another, and another — she said she wasn't experiencing déjà moo.

The herd of cattle proceeded through her back garden, craning their necks to steal the apples from her fruit trees, and began chomping their way through her vegetable patch, eating cabbages and all.

A total of 12 cows had escaped from their field off Grindsbrook Road in Radcliffe, then maid their way along Brookside Walk and onto Saville Road.

June, who has lived in Saville Road for 66 years, said: "I was just sat there in my conservatory when all of a sudden this cow walked by, then another, and then another one. Then the whole herd descended on my garden.

"They had made their way down Grindsbrook Road, down Brookside Walk, and onto Saville Road, crossed onto the other side and come straight down my driveway.

"I was not asleep. I had just brewed a tea. We have had to laugh about it. I think they smelt cabbages."

The escapees ate a dozen cabbages, half a dozen cauliflowers, Brussel sprouts, peas and beans, which had been planted and cultivated by June's daughter Janet Hayes.

They also knocked over a number of plant pots on their way down the driveway and left several cow pats.

June, who formerly worked at Geoff Hayes Cycles in Radcliffe with her late husband, said: "They have decimated my garden. They have eaten everything, including the apples off the trees, and the cauliflowers."

June praised neighbours who rushed to her aid and helped her trace the owner of the cows after the unexpected visit on Sunday, October 7. The cattle were retrieved and driven back to their field within a few hours.

However mother and daughter Janet Hayes, who lives in Bradley Fold, are calling for the owner to "take responsibility" and "put the garden back in order."

Janet, a 50-year-old author and education consultant, said: "My first concern is for mum. It took her and two neighbours two hours to clean the paths alone.

"The garden has been devastated. Mum cannot get to her greenhouse. Also the cost of the vegetables and fruit that the cows ate is substantial.

"Whilst I appreciate these cannot be replaced, the time, effort and water needed for growth is an issue.

"We want to be reasonable because we know it's not the farmers fault directly. But the cows are his responsibility and in the end I simply want the garden to be safe."

June added: "I want them to come and tidy my garden up so I can replant something.

"Why should I pay for someone to put my garden right? I'm not asking for the moon. We just want it back in order."