A HOPWOOD farmer believes a courting couple could have been responsible for 38 of his cows escaping - which led to eight being killed following a collision on the A435.
Mark Jackson, of Broadcroft, Watery Lane, lost one Limousin Friesian Cross outright in the collision involving a lorry and a Hyundai Coupe at about 4am on Thursday.
Another seven, worth £500 each, were put down because of injuries.
The road was closed for nearly four hours as the animals, vehicles and blood was cleared. The drivers were shaken but unhurt.
But Mr Jackson said two gates to the Radford Road field where the cows were kept had been unchained and pulled off their hinges.
Mr Jackson, who runs the farm in partnership with his brother, Ian, said the animals travelled about two-and-a-half miles to reach the dual carriageway.
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