Canon Peter Hallam, who is back living in Burnley after retiring to Wales 10 years ago, was believed to have been helping his wife after she was chased by one of the herd. Mr Hallam was knocked to the floor before being trampled and kicked in the head.

The incident happened at Barden Fell, near Bolton Abbey, after the couple had been walking on August Bank Holiday Sunday.

He was airlifted to Harrogate District Hospital with "quite serious but non-life threatening" injuries and was placed in a high dependency ward over concerns for his heart.

He also suffered facial injuries and bruising to his body while his wife, Deborah, sustained broken ribs.

However, Mr Hallam (75), who left St James's Church, Briercliffe, in June 1998 after 31 years as vicar, has made steady progress and is now waiting to be transferred to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. His wife said: "It has been a hell of a two weeks but we have got through it and that is the main thing. I have been going to visit him in hospital every day and we just want to get him home now."

During his spell in Burnley he became the longest-serving clergyman in East Lancashire, and the couple now live in Grassington Drive.

Mr Hallam became vicar of St James's Church in 1967 and soon became heavily involved in the local community. He was also chairman of governors of St James's Lane Head School and was honoured for his hard work by being awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List in 1999. He regularly stands in at St Peter's Parish Church.