A herd of cows nearly made a great escape onto a Warwickshire motorway early today when they broke through a six foot high fence.

More than 80 cows managed to get around the 30ft chain obstacle and threaten to cause havoc on the M40.

They were spotted grazing in a car park at the Barnhill service station on the M40 northbound at 2.30am.

Around ten cows were eating grass while another 60 ambled towards the slip road of the motorway.

Two articulated lorry drivers were trying to herd them back to safety.

Traffic police were called, and with service station staff and farm workers from a nearby farm, managed to get the cows across the Fosse Way on a service road.

The escape attempt ended when they were put into some holding pens. It is believed that the cows belong to a farmer from Moreton Morrell.

None of the cows managed to milk the situation by getting onto the motorway, but speed restrictions were put in place along a ten-mile stretch to beef up safety measures.