MOO would have thought it!

A cow-mad North Yorkshire hotel owner is offering guests the chance to relieve stress by cuddling his cattle.

And he also provides a free tape recording of their "moo" sounds as another effective stress-busting method.

Bill Ward, owner of Dunsley Hall Hotel, near Whitby, was bought a stud bull called Baldric for his 50th birthday which produced a herd of 40 he keeps in a nearby field.

The hotelier said he found they had a strange calming potential if embraced and decided to pass on this cow therapy to world-weary guests.

They are offered a "Room with a Moo" package for no extra cost which includes the chance to feed, wash and cuddle his cows in a field close to the hotel. An audio tape of their sounds is also provided.