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A shop owner has aided the rescue of a sheep which had been stranded in a lake following a suspected dog attack in the Lake District.

David Hughes, owner of Leven Village Shop alongside his wife Vanessa Riley in Kendal, said he saved a Herdwick sheep which had managed to get itself stranded in Buttermere lake on Thursday (April 25).

Mr Hughes had been walking in Buttermere Valley - surrounded by fells, farms, woodland and three lakes near Cockermouth - with his wife before spotting something 'bobbing' its head up and down in the water.

"It was really strange as we were enjoying our walk when we could see something quite strange in the lake," he added.

"There were a lot of people by the edge of the lake so we went to take a look.

"When we got closer, we could see it was a poor Herdwick sheep just about managing to keep afloat."

Ms Riley said the sheep had reportedly been chased by an out of control dog into the lake from onlookers at the scene.

"Apparently the owners of the dog had seen the sheep but decided to walk off," she adds.

"After trying to contact the emergency services - rather unsuccessfully due to the bad signal - David decided to take matters into his own hands.

"We just did not want any more harm to come to the sheep."  

Mr Hughes said the cold temperatures had taken a toll on the sheep.

"I just had to do something," the shop owner said.

"It was so cold in the water but I have had experience of this type of swimming which helped a lot.

"When I reached the sheep, I managed to bring it to safety.

"The poor thing must have been in the water a long time because it could not stand up on its legs and was so cold.

"Things did not look great at this point."

Ms Riley then tendered to the sheep by trying to keep it warm and dry after its ordeal.

"My wife is a great lady," Mr Hughes added.

"She did all she could to make the Herdwick comfortable after what must have been an awful experience.

"However, the sheep eventually started to find its feet again.

"We informed the farmer in the area and they were really grateful that people had cared and taken care of their livestock.

"In my 50 years of living in the Lake District, I had never seen anything like this before.

"But it felt right to help which was the main thing.

"I would do it again within a heartbeat if I had too."

Íæż½ã½ã rescue 'Britain's loneliest sheep'

You can support Íæż½ã½ã's Take the Lead campaign, in association with the National Sheep Association, to raise awareness of keeping dogs on lead when near livestock.

We can provide you with free signs to place around your farm warning dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead near livestock.

To request yours, send a stamped self-addressed A4 envelope to: FG Take the Lead, Íæż½ã½ã, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9NZ.

We will be able to send up to 25 signs.

Alternatively, you can contact reporter Chris Brayford if you have been a victim of a livestock worrying incident and if you wish to share your story at [email protected]

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