Escaped cows from a farm in Great Bowden managed to get onto the playing fields at Robert Smyth School in Burnmill Road on Tuesday morning.

A teacher at the school phoned Harborough police at 7.55am to say two cows had been spotted on the campus.

Students arriving at school were alarmed at the bizarre sight and pupils were banned from going onto the fields during the morning break-time.

One teenager told the Mail: "There were two cows on the playing fields and two policemen were trying to round them up. It was a very strange sight. Everyone was told not to go on the fields."

Insp Neal Holland, head of Harborough police, said two of his officers tried to "herd" the cattle but to no avail.

An RSPCA officer came to help and two farmers then helped to herd the cattle onto a trailer. The bovine refugees were safely back home by midday.

Insp Holland said: "I would like to thank the two local farmers for their help and the RSPCA officer who had come all the way out from Loughborough. We were very grateful for their help."

* Do you have mobile phone video footage of this or any other quirky Harborough happening? Email alex.blackwell@harboroughmail.co.uk