A stalker had been hired on one farm to tackle wild boars.

Farming leaders in the West Midlands blamed the tusked animal for savaging livestock, damaging crops and impregnating pig sows in the region.

In one incident, a farmer said a wild boar chased 19 of his heifers across fields into a neighbouring farm at Coughton, near Alcester, Warwickshire, and attacked a pregnant cow.

The National Farmers' Union warned the nocturnal beasts could be dangerous to the public after a woman riding a horse in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, was also chased.

They are impressively large creatures, very fast and aggressive. In my opinion they are dangerous things. Matthew Price, NFU group secretary

Matthew Price, group secretary of the NFU in Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye, said he was concerned by the animals.

"My main concern is public safety, both from the boar and from people who try shooting them," he said.

"A sow with piglets is extremely dangerous. They are impressively large creatures, very fast and aggressive. In my opinion they are dangerous things.

"The population is fairly prolific. I have noticed a rise over the last two to three years."

Mr Price said some farmers had shot wild boar after they caused considerable crop damage and a professional stalker had been hired on one farm to thin out the population.