Three rescued searching for viral Highland cows

Three people have been rescued after getting into difficulty while looking for Highland cows that have gone viral on social media.

The group became disoriented on Butser Hill in Hampshire on Saturday evening amid bad weather and fading light.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue warned that picture-perfect scenes captured on social media do not reflect the reality of the terrain.

Crews from Havant and Cosham, plus ambulance colleagues, used a 4×4 to reach the trio.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue said: "With temperatures dropping and rain setting in, the group quickly found themselves in difficulty.

"Despite challenging conditions, the individuals were swiftly located using the what3words app to narrow down their location."

Steve Jenkins, station manager, said: "Social media posts often show the Highland cows and panoramic views, but rarely reflect the physical effort or preparation required to reach them."

He said the terrain can be challenging, especially during winter when poor weather conditions are more frequent and the daylight hours are limited.

He said: "The area is covered in thick gorse, and the wet weather has made the ground very slippery.

"Without proper preparation, visitors are at risk of slips, falls and hyperthermia."

"We're glad no one was harmed during this incident, but it highlights the risks of visiting an exposed downland environment where conditions can change rapidly," he added.