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, found 20 cows walking around the neighbourhood.

The herd escaped from a nearby field owned by farmer Charlie Gee, of Medley Manor Farm, Binsey, at about 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 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 measures to make sure this doesn't happen again and I would like to thank all those people who helped to round up the herd."