FURTHER to the article and letters published last week regarding cows grazing on public rights of way, my tale happened earlier this year.

We were walking the Minster Way and the stretch in question was from Stamford Bridge to Kexby Bridge, on the banks of the River Derwent. Towards the end, we encountered a herd of bullocks.

The churned-up ground suggested they had been at the water’s edge all day, but now it was evening and they seemed happy grazing at the furthest corner from us.

About 100 yards from our next stile, the bullocks suddenly moved, appearing to block off our exit; one bullock charged at us.

My husband had a walking stick and in terror waved it at the bullock. This worked for an instant but by now the whole herd was very close and I am not sure even now how we made it over.

This was very frightening and if we had not been able to make the stile, with only the river to escape to on our left, we could have been seriously hurt.

This path is a public right of way and although signs indicate potential livestock in the fields and advise keeping dogs on a leash, if we had been less able or a family with children out for a stroll, the consequences do not bear thinking about.

Chris Higgins, Keble Park South, Bishopthorpe, York.