Motorists a busy motorway around Birmingham faced eight-mile tailbacks today after a cow escaped from an overturned trailer.

Drivers sat bumper to bumper on the southbound carriageway of the M42 around the city while fire crews and police officers tried to catch the frightened beast.

Another cow died when the cattle trailer overturned at junction five at Solihull shortly after 8am.

Central Motorway Police Group, which patrols the West Midlands' motorway network, said the road was reopened after about an hour when the cow was caught.

More on this story in Thursday's Birmingham Post