A DEAD cow has become stuck in the River Parrett by the town bridge in Bridgwater over the last three days.

The cow was first noticed on Tuesday and many thought it had been washed away in the tide, however today (Thursday, August 14) the cow has re-emerged slightly further downstream.

There has been a dispute over which local authority should deal with the issue, and how they go about doing so.

Sedgemoor District Council says their team has looked at the issue but due to the steep banks and limited equipment they cannot remove it at its current location.

A spokesman said the relevant authorities were looking at various methods to retrieve the cow, but its position made it a 'logistical nightmare'.

They hope the cow will either wash away on the tide, or at least get washed further downstream to a location where it can be removed safely.

The Environment Agency is the authority responsible for issues in main watercourses.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We are aware the dead cow is still in the river and appreciate it is visually disturbing to some members of the public.

"However, it does not pose a risk to the environment or a flood risk. We will continue to monitor the situation and work with partner organisations to identify practical solutions to remove it."