Amusing cows - but serious underlying issue

On the surface the incident is vastly amusing - but not if you are the owner of the cattle or one of the residents whose property was damaged when the heifers got loose.

The cows might have caused a bit of a grin, although the escapees do underpin the care people need to take while walking in the countryside.

It seems a walker or dog owner left a gate open - leaving a clear route for the cattle to make a run for it.

In this case it was fortunate nobody human - or bovine - was injured in any way.

So if you're out and about in the countryside, take the police's advice about closing gates and have a thought for the livestock farmers - all common sense.

In this case the farmer is paying for the damage caused, and the incident wasn't even his fault.

Nice beaches, shame about the seawater grade

WHAT a shame Bexhill's beaches only achieved a basic pass on cleanliness once again.

The Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide is one of the places many tourists go to find examples of good seaside life.

Bexhill's beaches are extremely beautiful, even though the main beach is showing at a disadvantage this summer thanks to the Next Wave scheme being built.

And given the rise in people looking to stay in the UK for a holiday, more should really be done to improve the quality of our seawater.

Anything to promote Bexhill as a viable, pleasant tourist resort will help.

Tourist information point, anyone?