A FARM dog s life was saved by an alert six-year-old boy who stopped him from being crushed to death by a bale of straw. Bill Barr, who runs Butlers Farm in Hogg End Lane, St Albans, was unaware that a bale of straw had fallen on his dog Jack while he w

A FARM dog's life was saved by an alert six-year-old boy who stopped him from being crushed to death by a bale of straw.

Bill Barr, who runs Butlers Farm in Hogg End Lane, St Albans, was unaware that a bale of straw had fallen on his dog Jack while he was working.

Luckily young Joshua Costa-Sa, whose family lives in the farmhouse, was watching Bill stack the straw and saw the heavy bale fall from the grab and land on Jack, a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier.

He quickly alerted Bill who would otherwise have been oblivious to Jack's accident as he was sitting in the cab of his machine and would have carried on stacking bales on top.

Bill, who is the county chairman of the Herts National Farmers Union, said: "A bale of straw fell on Jack and trapped him by his back end but I didn't realise. It probably would have been the end for him - Joshua saved the day."

Joshua said: "I yelled to Bill, he lifted the bale then the dog's head popped out."

Jack sustained serious bruising in the accident but after spending two days at the vets he is now home with Bill and is expected to make a full recovery.

Joshua's mum Louise explained that he was very keen on farming and was always out with Bill when he got the chance.

He recently presented a talk on the subject to his fellow pupils at Aldwickbury School.

Bill, who has been a farmer for more than 20 years and lives on another farm, said: "He is as keen as mustard on what's going on with the farm and watching me use the machines."

After taking Jack to the vets following the accident, Bill, aged 54, went on to win a Double First in the county hay championship for the quality of his seed and meadow hay.