A rescue operation was launched by local fire crews after a vehicle left the road at Sourton.

Fire crews from Okehampton and Hatherleigh, along with a specialist crew from Exmouth, were called out to the incident at around lunchtime on Monday, December 6 involving a 4x4 towing a trailer.

The 4x4 left the carriageway and came to rest sideways on the embankment.

Though the driver was able to escape from the vehicle, the bullock inside the trailer was trapped.

The crews cut away trees and undergrowth to stabilise the vehicle and a specialist 'heavy rescue' vehicle was called to the scene after it became clear that extra winching equipment was needed to right the trailer.

After nearly two hours the injured bullock was released from the trailer and led into a horse box which the owner had managed to acquire in the meantime.