FARMER Mathew Webb got the biggest surprise of his life after helping give his cow Bella give birth to triplets.

The birth, which is said to be two million to one occurrence, saw the arrival into the world of two Aberdeen Angus heifers and a bull, at Cheadle Farm, Knutsford, a fortnight ago.

Mathew, 26, said: “It’s the rarest birth I have ever seen, in that all of them survived. Usually one or other of them dies and even the mother does on occasions.”

On this occasion, Mathew had returned to the farmhouse and telling his mum Hilary that he had delivered twins and then put protective clothing used during the birth into the washing machine.

Hilary explained: “When I asked him if Bella was up on her feet or still on the ground, he said the latter, and I suggested he had better check that she had finished calving. A short time later he came haring up the road shouting ‘stop the washing machine’”

Mathew, who farms with his father Ken, 68, has a herd of up to 250 cows.

Mathew explained: “She was looking a bit funny the day before she gave birth and started calving at about 5am.

“I helped her with the first one and after the second one arrived I went to clean myself up thinking that was it, but then the third one arrived about 11am. I was in shock after the third one was born because my parents have been farming for more than 50 years and have never seen this.”

He added: “After giving birth to the equivalent of three medium sized Labrador dogs Bella, who was hand reared herself, was absolutely knackered.”

Mathew has asked that children help to name his new triplets. Send your ideas with name and contact details to knutsford@guardiangrp.co.uk