Cows crash through weaver's ceiling smashing tables and chairs after climbing onto the roof of her converted barn

Cattle had climbed onto Sue Marshall's sloped roof to reach grass

Weaver, 77, feared a tree had fallen into her workshop only to find the cows

Animals cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to converted barn



A craftswoman who heard an 'almighty crash' as she vacuumed was shocked when she saw two cows had toppled through the roof of her home, crushing her furniture.



Sue Marshall had been was cleaning the converted barn where she lives when she was rocked by an 'almighty crash'.

Ms Marshall, a professional weaver, feared a tree had fallen onto the workshop of her property in Lamorna, near Penzance, Cornwall.

Shock: Craftswoman Sue Marshall was stunned when two cows fell through the roof of her home as she cleaned, causing thousands of pounds of damage

Gaping: The hole left in the roof of Sue Marshall's workshop after the cows plummeted through the ceiling of her converted barn

However, when the 77-year-old entered the room she saw a cow stood in the workshop after it fell through her roof and flattened a table and chairs.

Ms Marshall managed to shoo the beast out of her property, but just minutes later a second cow, who had followed the first, fell through another part of the roof.

The two animals crushed the majority of the furniture in the room but narrowly avoided the weaver's expensive loom.

Wild cow chase: Ms Marshall with one of the cows which fell through the roof of her workshop

Ms Marshall said: 'I was hoovering at the time and heard an almighty crash. I assumed that a tree had come down.

'I was astonished to find that a cow had fallen through the roof of the workshop, narrowly missing my loom and leaving a huge hole in the roof.

'No sooner had I let the startled animal out than another one fell through another part of the roof.

'Both cows narrowly missed the loom, which was incredibly fortunate, and neither was injured. I was in absolute shock.'

The animals had been grazing in a neighbouring farmer's field before they climbed onto the sloped roof to get to greener grass.

Mrs Marshall said the first cow was 'extremely eager' to leave and ran out the back door - but its companion was more reluctant to go.

She added: 'The cows were clearly distressed, the first careered out of the yard into an adjacent field, the second decided to hang around and made a bit of mess of the garden.

'I looked up at the fence and saw the rest of the herd looking on, a helpful neighbour came to our aid and made sure no more came through the fence.'

The two cows caused thousands of pounds worth of damage but luckily Ms Marshall was able to make a claim was against the farmer's insurance.

Alan Goddard, managing director of insurers Cornish Mutual, said: 'This very unusual case really does highlight the importance of keeping boundary fences in good condition.

Damage: The animals tore a hole through the roof of Ms Marshall's workshop and flattened much of her furniture, although fortunately they missed her expensive loom



'Fortunately no one was physically harmed and neither of the cows suffered any injuries.

'Livestock owners are potentially liable through common law and statute for accidents caused by animals straying, so land or animal owners should ensure that all fences are kept in reasonable order at all times.'