Runaway cow herd takes over Tredegar street Published duration 28 June 2011

image caption Udder chaos - the cows took over the front lawns in Peacehaven, Tredegar

A quiet street in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, was invaded by a herd of cows which trampled on gardens and peered into windows, say residents.

The 20 cattle escaped from their nearby paddock and decided to feast on front lawns and flowers in Peacehaven.

Residents are used to straying sheep but say the rogue cattle have become a nuisance.

Blaenau Gwent council says it is monitoring the situation.

Resident Sonya Gould, 70, said: "We are used to having pints of milk delivered to our doorstep but not the whole cow.

"They were everywhere. We are all treading cow muck into our carpets because it's all over our garden paths.

"We held a fund-raising event to plant flowers around the communal gardens but the cows have eaten them all."

The cows also caused consternation by leaving cowpats on garden paths and trampling over lawns in the incident at the end of last week.

Ann Ingram, who was woken up by the cows mooing, said: "It used to be sheep, and that's bad enough, but cows are a whole different kettle of fish.

image caption Residents have alerted the council to the issue and it says it is monitoring the situation

"It's frightening for many of the older people here to have cows walking down the street, peering in their windows, it's ridiculous.

"They're obviously big animals, and an elderly person can't just shoo them off - there's no telling what an animal might do."

People living in Peacehaven have brought in the council in a bid to get the herd to move back to their paddock.

A spokesperson for Blaenau Gwent Council said: "We've done our utmost to tackle this problem, and have responded to all call-outs.

"We continue to monitor the situation at least once a week and any roaming animals will be impounded."