DOG owners in the New Forest have been warned to be vigilant when out walking after a couple were injured by a cow.

New Forest Dog Owners Group said a man suffered a broken arm and shoulder when a black cow charged twice without warning on Hale Purlieu, near Fordingbridge.

His wife was also hit in the chest and again in the back and was pushed to the ground by the cow.

It is believed she suffered minor injuries.

Agister Andrew Napthine has advised dog owners to let their pets go in the event of a cow attack

He said: “They can get out of the way quicker than we can and it is usually the dog the cow is after.”

One of the victim's, Carol Donaldson, said she and her husband had been walking in the area for more than 16 years and always gave cows a wide berth.

Describing the incident, she said: "The herd was some way off and we made sure we were not near them.

"We were on a path with tall bracken on both sides.

"We never saw it coming as it charged us from behind.

"We let go of the dogs. It trampled my husband and hit me full in the chest when I turned around to him.

"The cow did not go after the dogs but turned around and hit me again in the back, smashing me to the ground.

"It was ramming me on the ground when my husband got up and tried to scare it away from me. It then charged at him and injured him badly.

"We are only thankful that it did not have horns as we are sure it would have killed us. I was brought up on a farm and am aware of the danger of cows particularly when calves are around. Please be careful out there. We never thought it would happen to us because we are very careful around livestock."