Lightning strike kills cattle

Lightning has killed 16 cows which were sheltering during a storm at a farm in East Lothian.

It is thought one of the cows was struck and that the lightning conducted through a puddle to kill the other cows.

The incident occurred at Saltoun House Farm, Pencaitland. In an interview with BBC Scotland, farm manager Jim McDougal spoke of his sadness.

“It is a shocking thing to see. I felt numbness, it was unbelievable,” said Mr McDougal.

“They were all either sitting or lying where they had fallen in a regimented row. I have never seen anything like it in my life.

“The cows were singed and we could smell it in the air when we arrived,” he told the BBC.

“I am very upset, but it was a freak act of nature so there was nothing I could do about it.”