Eighty-six-year-old charity walker Ken Honeyman is recovering after being attacked by a cow as he walked in the Yorkshire Dales.

The retired power station worker, who was raising funds for the disabled on the sponsored walk, suffered cuts and severe bruising to his ribs and left leg as the charging animal bowled him over.

As it attempted to butt him, his daughter-in-law and son ran at the beast, waving their arms to scare it away, and another walker stepped in to help.

Mr Honeyman was walking the Dales Way, between Kettlewell and Grassington, with his son, classical singer Ian Honeyman and his wife Sophie.

He managed to stagger off the fell and back into Kettlewell to his bed-and-breakfast accommodation, but the following morning he felt poorly and was taken to Airedale General Hospital, at Steeton.

He was released two days later heavily bandaged and taken home to Barrow-in-Furness.

The cow was in a field with calves and a bull when it appeared from behind a limestone outcrop.

“It was going a fair speed,” said Mr Honeyman. “It knocked me flying and I fell on my left side. I don’t remember much more, but it seemed to be nudging me.”

His son said they had seen a small sign before entering the field which said there was a bull with cows and calves present.

“It’s difficult to know why it attacked. We didn’t have a dog. I didn’t know cows could be dangerous with calves. Perhaps this cow was frightened by something else.

“I’m not blaming the farmer – though I think the sign could have been bigger – but I think the public need to be aware that cows can act like this and people should be careful.

“The farmer, who we have spoken to, was very kind and sympathetic. He said he was amazed that it had happened as the cattle were normally docile. The farmer said he intended taking them off the fells and put them in a lower field to avoid contact with walkers.

“My dad is recovering well. It’s not put him off though and we’ll be back,” said Mr Honeyman.

He praised the care his father had received in hospital. The incident was reported to Skipton police.

Alan Hulme, Yorkshire Dales National Park ranger services manager, said attacks were rare when compared with the thousands of walkers who used the Dales countryside.

“Cows can be protective especially when dogs are about, but most cows and walkers co-existed happily.”

Ramblers chief executive Tom Franklin said: “Incidents of people being attacked by cattle are few and far between and it would be counter to the interest of people who walk and farmers alike to see cattle closed off behind fences in fields.”

The National Union of Farmers, backed by The Ramblers, has issued advice to walkers.

It says: “Your dog can scare or harm animals. Keep it on a lead around livestock, but let go if chased by cattle.”

It follows a spate of incidents involving people being attacked by cattle, including the death of a 49-year-old veterinary surgeon who was trampled to death by a herd of cattle as she walked with her dog in Gayle, Wensleydale.