A RETIRED pensioner who was butted in the face by a goat in an Oswaldtwistle park is calling for action to prevent the same thing happening to a child.
Sheila Kenyon, 73, who lives in Accrington, was feeding the chickens at Rhyddings Park’s Pets Corner when she was attacked by a billy goat as she bent down to pick up a paper bag.
She said: "I had just stopped to feed the chickens and as I bent down to pick up a bag I felt a massive blow to my face.
"As I moved back I realised I had been attacked by a goat which continued to buck, narrowly missing me and hitting the fence. It was such a shock as I didn’t even see it coming.
"The situation was really dangerous as the goat also kicked me in the temple, causing a deep cut and severe bruising. I was really lucky not to be knocked unconscious.
"The most worrying part of the whole incident is that I was at the same level as a child and if it had been a child kicked instead of me the outcome could have been a lot more serious."
Mrs Kenyon, whose husband Ken, 74, was given a Respect Award by Tony Blair for standing up to anti-social behaviour in the Spring Hill area, spent more than two and a half hours in hospital having her injuries treated.
After she was discharged, the grandmother-of-seven contacted Hyndburn Council and told it her concerns regarding the goats and local children.
Mrs Kenyon said: "Signs have now been put up around Pets Corner warning people that the goats may buck but I don’t think it’s enough to safeguard against this happening again.
"What about children who can’t read or those who simply cannot be bothered to read? I think more needs to be done to keep not only people like me safe but local children safe too."
Hyndburn Council leader and Oswaldtwistle ward councillor, Peter Britcliffe, said: "We are very aware of the problem and we have been working closely with the Friends of Rhyddings Park to resolve it.
"New warning signs have been placed around Pets Corner to warn people not to get too close and talks are underway regarding whether or not to change the goat involved in this incident for another with a better temperament.
"We are not able to just remove the goat as they are social creatures who need to live in pairs."
