A "dedicated" farmer was crushed when he tried to move his bull away from a potential conflict, an inquest heard.

David Mytum was attacked by the two-year-old short-horn in a field near his farm in Oxenhope, Keighley, on July 9. Air ambulance paramedics were called to the incident after he was found lying in rushes but he was certified dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination showed that the 55-year-old father-of-two, from Hardnaze Farm, suffered fractured ribs which were consistent with his chest being crushed by either the bull's head or hooves.

The tragedy came after the bull had attacked him in a similar incident only two days earlier.

Bradford Coroners Court heard how Mr Mytum, who had 20 years' experience in farming and was a lecturer at Keighley College, placed the bull and some cows in a field near Oxenhope Cemetery.

But when he realised there was a bull belonging to another farmer in the next field he tried to move his, fearing a potential fight between them.

In a statement read to the hearing, his wife Susan said they had no problems controlling the bull in the past when they and young children used to stroke it in the field. But she described how her husband was "curled up" on the ground when the bull attacked him the first time. On that occasion, she hit it with a brush several times before Mr Mytum managed to escape.

After receiving treatment at Airedale Hospital, he told her "he would always ensure he would have a stick with him in future when he dealt with the bull".

But the inquest heard that he did not take one when he went into the field on the day of his death.

His sister Caroline Wall said she had told him after the first attack he was lucky to be alive.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said the tragedy was a warning to all farmers that however docile bulls may be, accidents can and do happen.

Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest was told that the bull was destroyed while Mrs Mytum is planning to get rid of the cows and sheep at the farm.