Glenis and Roger Freeman, pictured at their son's wedding in 2007

A farmer has been acquitted of manslaughter following the death of a walker attacked by cattle on his land.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court found Paul Waterfall not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after Roger Freeman died in the incident at Underhill Farm in Stanford on Soar on the boundary of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

The court heard the 63-year-old walker was using a public footpath across a field at the farm in November 2010 with his wife Glenis Freeman.

A Brown Swiss bull was in the field with other breeds of cattle.

Mr Freeman suffered a broken back, broken ribs and arms and fractures to his shoulder and died at the scene from his injuries.

His wife also suffered injuries in the attack but doubt was cast in the four-week-long hearing as to whether the attacking animal was the bull or a cow in the same field.

Judge Gregory Dickinson said the case raised questions whether Brown Swiss bulls should be added to a list of animal breeds that cannot be kept in fields where there is a public right of way.

He expressed his sympathy for Mr Freeman’s family but also criticised the length of time the case had taken to come to court.

After the case, walkers’ charity the Ramblers said legislation covering bulls in fields should be reviewed.

Janet Davis, senior policy officer at the Ramblers, said: “Our sympathies go out to the family of Roger Freeman.

“We’ll be looking at all the evidence from the case and reviewing it closely. However the case has really highlighted the necessity to re-examine the legislation around bulls being kept in fields with footpaths passing through them.

“Farming practices and cattle breeds have changed considerably since of the Wildlife and Countryside Act was written in 1981.

“The act bans some bulls from being kept in fields that are crossed by a right of way. If bulls are under the age of 10 months or not of a recognised dairy breed, and provided they’re accompanied by cows or heifers, they are allowed to be kept in such fields.

“However there are now many new breeds of bull that are not included on this list that may in fact be dangerous.

“We are calling for this legislation to be carefully reviewed. We’d welcome the chance to work with farmers and landowners to make the countryside safer for everyone.”

Most cattle are placid, but the Ramblers said animals may react to walkers' presence

The organisation also repeated its advice to walkers encountering cattle in the countryside.

It said people should not put themselves at risk and should be prepared for cattle to react to their presence.

You should move quickly and quietly and walk around the herd if possible, trying to avoid walking between cattle, especially calves and their mothers; and be prepared to walk off of the path if necessary.

If you have a dog with you, you should keep it under close, effective control but let it go if you are threatened by cattle.

Finally, the Ramblers said you should not panic, or run, as most cattle will stop before they reach you.