A HERD of cows went roaming through an Oxford estate after vandals broke into their field to ride mini-motorbikes.

Residents of Lewell Avenue, Raymund Road and Arlington Drive, in Marston, were startled when they looked out of their windows and saw the 20 cows walking around their neighbourhood.

The herd escaped from the field owned by farmer Charlie Gee, of Medley Manor Farm, at around 7pm on Tuesday.

Mr Gee said: "Some kids had cut through the fence to ride mini-motorbikes, it's a huge pain and could have been very dangerous.

"This is the second time that people have broken into the field, though the first time there weren't any cows in it. If they had wandered into the road it could have been a nasty accident."

Blair Humphreys-Ross, 30, said it was a "bizarre scene" as the cows made their way into people's gardens and started munching on their lawns, hedges and flower beds.

Mr Humphreys-Ross, of Lewell Avenue, said: "It was quite a strange experience. You don't expect to see a herd of cows when you look out of a window in the suburbs.

"Everyone just came out into the streets to look at them, it was quite a bizarre scene. They were just wandering round people's gardens eating from the lawns and flower beds."

Police said they received six calls from people about the cows.

Spokesman Toby Shergold said: "By the time we had dispatched officers to the scene, the cows had already been rounded up by members of the public."

Mr Gee said: "We are now taking measure to make sure this doesn't happen again and I would like to thank all those people that helped to round up the herd."