JUST IN: Workers in Woodchester leave their posts to stop cow accident (From Stroud News and Journal)

JUST IN: Workers in Woodchester leave their posts to stop cow accident

5:25pm Wednesday 7th September 2011 in News By Harriet Hernando, Reporter for Stonehouse

PRODUCTION at a factory in South Woodchester was brought to a halt on Wednesday while workers stopped cows from wandering onto the A46. John Cabrini-Dale, who owns the Omnitrack factory on Station Road Industrial Estate, was walking along the cycle track which runs parallel to the road when he noticed five cows. "As soon as I saw the animals I knew we had to stop them getting onto the A46 to prevent an accident," said Mr Cabrini-Dale, who had been taking his bearded collie Agusta for a walk with two employees, Richard Warenisca, a project support co-ordinator, and Karl Bradbury, a production leader, around 1pm. The three managed to contain the cows, which had made their way from Rodborough Common, by waving their arms around. "We had to stop the cows from barging past us and onto the main road," said Mr Cabrini-Dale, who instructed another employee, David Barnett, a design engineer, to block an exit with wooden pallets from the factory. Meanwhile, Mr Cabrini-Dale began warning cyclists and runners about the cows to prevent the animals from becoming alarmed. Back at the factory, work had to be halted as Mr Cabrini-Dale has to oversee production and because there were not enough staff available. The police were called and PCSO Marcus Essabri later praised the team for their quick thinking. "They did a brilliant job helping out like this in their own time," he said. "If the cows had managed to get onto the A46 they could have caused a big accident." Production at the factory, which makes ball transfer units for conveyer systems and has 16 employees, resumed by 3pm, by which time the cows were being herded back to Rodborough Common.