A MIRACLE calf called Daisy survived against the odds after her pregnant mum was rescued from a muddy stream.

The calf's mother got stuck in the mud at Ashmoor Common, near Kempsey while she was still pregnant and had to be winched to safety and wrapped in a thermal blanket.

The calf called 'Daisy 11' is doing well but her mother had to be put down following her ordeal on Tuesday, March 31.

The cow was spotted in difficulties by dog walker Steven Powell who could not find the family and alerted Cllr David Harrison whose son Mark later called 999.

At the height of the incident four fire crews (around 20 firefighters) were involved in the rescue which took place on a windy and moonless night.

High powered portable lights had to be used and an all-terrain eight wheel buggy because the location was so inaccessible and the terrain so treacherous.

The cow's owner Chris Gove and friend Stuart Jeffries spent all night on the common lying either side of the cow to stop her rolling over and to hold down the survival blanket which the fire crew had left over the cow.

Farmer Rosie Gove said: "Sadly, despite trying twice a day to get the cow to stand, the damage to her was too great and six days later the vet advised that she should be put down.

"However, her calf was still alive and the vet offered to perform a Caesarean in the hope that although premature, the calf would be viable.

"The calf, a heifer, had a somewhat uncertain few days initially, but we are delighted to report that she's now making good progress."

She has been moved from the common while she’s hand-reared.

Chris and Rosie Gove wanted to issue a public thank you to those who had helped with the rescue.

The couple said they wanted to thank Steven Powell for reporting the problem, Cllr David Harrison and his son for getting a message to the couple and calling the fire brigade, the entire rescue crew "whose care over the cow certainly saved the life of her calf", Anna, Chris and Ray, the three vets who were involved, two farmers who helped (one providing essential colostrum for the calf), John Anstey for spending hours each day trying to raise the cow using straps on his fork lift and Stuart and Heather Jefferies, Tracey Nash and Richard Woodward who helped in the daily efforts and "whose careful handling also preserved the life of the calf".

Mrs Gove said: "We contemplated giving the calf a special name, but have stuck with our normal name for heifers, so she’s Daisy 11.

"Whatever her name, it’s pretty amazing that she’s here at all. We are truly grateful to everyone involved."