Essex farm’s missing bullocks spark police helicopter search

Three bullocks caused “havoc” in a village after ramming their way out of a barn and sparking a helicopter search.

The fugitives launched their escape bid from Brookelynne Farm, near Thorpe-le-Soken in Essex, on Sunday morning.

Relieved farmer Aimee Carr said two of the bullocks were rescued on Monday, with the third captured and awaiting a lift home.

“It’s caused quite a bit of a stir locally,” said Mrs Carr.

She told the BBC the 94-stone (600-kg) animals spooked a horse, rummaged in fields and were chased by people on motorbikes during their time at large.

Mrs Carr deployed the 140-acre farm’s “mother cow”, Rose, to tempt the bullocks back home.

“She got off the trailer and was like ‘you need to come home now’, so she was our saviour,” the farmer said.

A helicopter took to the skies to lead the cattle hunt, with officers from Essex Police and villagers alike also among the search party.

“Unfortunately, that spooked [the bullocks] and they separated at that point,” Mrs Carr said.

“They created quite a bit of havoc… they were quite terrified by what had happened.”

The farmer and her husband, Chris, were away from their land when the trio were reported missing at about 12:00 GMT.

She added: “We got back to the farm as soon as we could, we had that sinking feeling.

“To have them out and in harm’s way was terrifying for us, because we try to give them the very best life we can.”

The couple thanked the “wonderful people” living in Beaumont-cum-Moze, where the farm is based, for helping to find the animals.

“They do mean a lot to us,” Mrs Carr added. “They’re such enormous characters and they’re all very different, they have different personalities.”

A spokesman for the National Police Air Service said a helicopter was deployed at 12:05 and spent 50 minutes “searching for loose cattle”.

He added: “Once on scene the aircraft crew located one animal and talked in ground units to its location, before returning to base due to low fuel levels.”