A FARMER found dead in a field may have been trampled to death by his cattle, it is believed.

Stephen Sandys went out to feed his cattle at Pinstraw Farm in Eridge Road, Groombridge, near the Sussex/Kent border.

His partner found his body on the field with the farm's bull, cows and calves.

Mr Sandys died at the scene and there were cattle in the field at the time, police confirmed.

Police arrived to the farm at about 10.30pm last night. The bull was stamping and snorting and had to be shot dead by police. 

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious. It is believed he may have been trampled to death.

"There is no further information we can provide.

"The incident has been passed to the coroner's office."