Astonishing pictures show firefighters displaying their ability away from infernos – by safely hoisting a bull trapped in a ditch to safety.

Kent Fire and Rescue today revealed how its team tackled the “complex” situation by winching ‘Notorious’ out of harm’s way.

In a humorous post highlighting Tonbridge as the location, the agency wrote: “It was an eventful night for Notorious the bull, who got stuck in a ditch.

“The rescue was complex but it wasn’t the crews' first rodeo - they were ‘udderly’ committed to helping him ‘moo-ve’ out of the mud."

A series of snaps show how the surgical rescue operation unfolded, with firefighters working to help keep the several-tonne animal calm.

One picture shows a yellow winch rope being attached to Notorious’ back as he sits in what appears to be a stream in daylight.

The second shows the bull on the ground, still supported by a safety rope, as firefighters work to ensure it can be safely released as night falls.

A third photo, taken from about ten feet up, depicts how small the trench was for the animal, and clearly how tricky the rescue bid was to execute.

Posted at 6pm today, the pictures have been viewed almost a thousand times.

Commenting on the bull’s current health, a fire service spokesman, said: “Notorious was back to his normal, bullish self in no time.”