An 88-year-old "animal lover" was tragically trampled to death by cows as she walked her dog in the New Forest.

Pamela Joyce Barnwell, who continued to work as a legal archivist after her retirement, was found lying on the ground with serious injuries after being charged by the cattle.

She was rushed tohospital but died from her injuries the following day. An inquest has now opened into her death which revealed she died from pelvic haemorrhage and polytrauma - multiple traumatic injuries.

Mrs Barnwell, from Fordingbridge, Hampshire, was described as an active person and walked her dog in the New Forest, Hants, every day. She and her pet were near to the Godshill cricket ground when the tragedy happened on October 21.

Other dog walkers had recently reported being charged at by cows in the same area, with one man having to dive across the ground to avoid being trampled.

Mrs Barnwell and her pet were near to the Godshill cricket ground when she was trampled (

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And neighbours have now paid tribute to Mrs Barnwell who they said was a 'lovely and hard-working lady'. One neighbour said: "She had a tremendous work ethic. She was a wonderful person and had a great sense of humour.

"She loved animals and walked her dog in the New Forest every day. We'd been neighbours for over 30 years, we thought the world of her. She will be greatly missed." The tragic incident occurred just days after a 63-year-old dog walker spoke of his own escape, having to leap out of the way to avoid being struck by a charging cow.

Kevin Parker said a cow ran out of the bushes at him without warning. He shouted and waved his arms, which led to him slipping on wet grass and falling over. The cow jumped and landed inches from where he was but he had managed to roll out of the way.

Mrs Barnwell suffered multiple traumatic injuries (

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Mrs Barnwell's death has led to calls for greater safety for walkers in the forest. Her cousin Mary Beesly said: "She would regularly walk her dog in the New Forest every day - I don't believe she ever mentioned any danger. It's very surreal - her passing has really upset me and as the days go past it plays on my mind more and more.

"For me as someone who is not from the area, I'm really surprised that incidents like this have not happened before in the New Forest. I have tried to call around some local people and organisations and they all tell me the same thing - animals have always been free to roam in the New Forest.

"I think something ought to be done to make sure people are kept safe while walking there." The inquest was adjourned until September next year, with Hampshire area coroner Nicholas Walker ordering statements from the New Forest District Council on the monitoring of wild stock and a statement from the owner of the cow