Manx Radio's farming correspondent is calling for greater awareness from the public when it comes to being around animals in the countryside.

John Kennaugh doesn't believe any farmer would guarantee the behaviour of their livestock at certain times.

His comments come in the wake of a Colby woman suffering serious injuries after being trampled by a herd of cows.

It's thought they believed their calves were in danger, despite the woman doing nothing to provoke them and having her dogs on leads.

Mr Kennaugh says there's always the potential for such an incident to occur, but doesn't believe cordoning off the paths is a practical solution.

On Mandate PM today he said:

"That would be prohibative, you couldn't possibly fence off the path within a field, that really couldn't be done. The path is a designated width across a field.

"Signage is put up and we do put signs up where footpaths go through open countryside.

"It's usually 'Beware of the bull', but I can tell you it's not just the bull that, in the first instance, can be curious and, if they are defending young, then they are unpredictable."