A HERD of cows trampled a goose to death on Golden Valley Common at Castlemorton, near Malvern.

Now a pensioner who witnessed the disturbing attack last Saturday is claiming that dogs, children or even adults could be at risk from the wandering herd.

Margaret Brewster, of Hollybeds Cottage said: "So many people come down the lake, it could have been anyone, such as a child.

"Three of us tried to get the cows off the goose, but we had to run. You couldn't go near them. They were frantic. There were feathers everywhere.

This is an open, public common, and this is my bone of contention."

Mrs Brewster said the herd of 30 Friesian cows and one bull were there because of a policy of the Malvern Hills conservators to encourage grazing on the common.

Mrs Brewster had already contacted the Conservators a few days before the goose was attacked, to express concerns about the presence of the bull in a space used by the public, including dog walkers.

After the trampling of the goose Mrs Brewster, who is herself the owner of two dogs, took down the names and addresses of several people who had witnessed the incident.

She also retrieved the body of the goose.

This week, she intends to contact the Malvern Hills Conservators again with an account of the trampling incident and to stress once more her concerns over the presence of the bull and the herd.

David Whitehorne of the Conservators, said the farmers who allow their herds to graze on common land are responsible for them.

But he added: "We will see if any farmers are aware of the incident and if there are any reasons why their animals would act in such an unusual way.

"It sounds like very strange behaviour. Geese can be aggressive and I wonder if this one spooked the cattle.

"I've certainly never heard of cows acting in a similar way with humans, but I would ask the public to act sensibly, to realise that cows are animals not pets, and to always keep their dogs under control."