A VETERINARY surgeon was trampled to death by a herd of cows as she walked her dogs.

The 49-year-old woman, from Warrington, was on a weekend break in the Yorkshire Dales when the herd attacked.

Reports named the woman as Liz Crowsley, head vet at Willows Veterinary Hospital in Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire.

North Yorkshire police were unable to confirm the woman’s identity last night.

She was walking her two dogs on their leads on a stretch of the public Pennine Way footpath when she was killed around midday on Sunday.

It is believed the herd of cattle and calves became aggressive after spotting the collie dog and brown and white spaniel, despite them being under control.

The woman was just outside the hamlet of Gayle, near Hawes, when police were called to reports of a commotion in a field.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said: "The lady appeared to have been trampled by the herd of cows and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene."

It is believed the woman was staying in a nearby holiday cottage at the time.

Her relatives, including her mother and brother, who lives outside the UK, have been told what happened.