A PENSIONER is fighting for his life after being trampled by a herd of cows as he walked his dog.

Police said that Tom Craggs was attacked as he walked his pet through a field at Mickleton, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, on Saturday afternoon.

The 79-year-old was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital where he was treated for head injuries and was detained for observation.

But his condition worsened next day and he was transferred to the intensive care unit where last night he was described as very poorly.

It is believed that the cows, which included several calves, became agitated by the presence of his border collie, Pip, as he walked through the field at Lonton South Farm.

Mr Craggs, who is from the Mickleton area, regularly walks his dog along a disused railway line to Middleton-in-Teesdale. But it is not known how he came to be in the nearby field.

Irene Watson, who lives at Lonton South Farm, said: "The public footpath runs alongside the field and he never normally goes in there.

"When he came round he had no idea what he was doing in that field.

"We've only got two or three cows in the field. My son helped him, he was quite dazed and apparently he had a cut to the head."

Mr Craggs' dog is being cared for by Mrs Watson at the farm.

She added: "He was very worried about his dog and calmed down a lot when he was told we would take care of it.

"We couldn't see it at first, but then we found it waiting for him at the end of the railway line.

"It's an awful thing to happen and you just hope he comes round. His poor dog has been crying and pining for him since he went."

Mr Craggs had been living in Australia before returning to live in Teesdale. Before moving to Mickleton almost three years ago, he lived in a caravan at nearby Holwick.