A LAKE District farmer who waded through three foot of flood water to save his flock of sheep has played down his actions saying: "Any farmer would do the same."

Tourist Bede Woods was stuck in traffic after taking part in Windermere's Stone Skimming Championship with his family when they were stopped by 'a distraught farmer' trying to save his stranded sheep from land close to the swollen River Rothay in Ambleside.

John Benson, who lives at Skelwith Fold Farm, had been alerted to the rising water by fellow farmer Shaun Taylforth and immediately headed over to herd his flock to safety.

Mr Woods, 63, from Jarrow, near Newcastle, said Mr Benson was 'shaking with fear for his flock'.

"I offered him a sausage roll but he said he could not eat as he said he would be sick," he said. "He did not want the animals to suffer. He was so concerned about the welfare of these animals."

However, Mr Benson said that he was 'certainly no hero' for wading into the water to herd his flock of 32 Mule and Suffolk sheep to safety.

"I think any farmer would do the same," he said. "The water was no more than three foot deep. I was in no danger whatsoever. You do what you have got to do."

Mr Benson said that he believed that if the river had been dredged, this would not have been a problem.

"I have been trying to get in touch with someone from the Environment Agency," he said. "Because Storm Desmond has left a lot of gravel and silt in the river. Dredging isn't done like it used to be."

Although Mr Benson is insistent that his actions were not extraordinary, Mr Woods said that he 'could not believe' what he witnessed.

"He came back to us and thanked us and I just thought what a lovely man, what a nice man," he said. "It's changed my view on the farming community. I could not understand how the farmer could risk his own life for sheep.

"What a hero. Our hearts go out to him."

A CUMBRIAN farmer has been hailed a 'hero' after wading out into a river to rescue his sheep.

Tourist, Bede Woods, was stuck in traffic following his family's participation in Windermere's Stone Skimming Championship.

"My family were driving past Galava Roman Fort near Ambleside," Bede, 63, said. "We were in a traffic jam trying to make our way back to the completely flooded campsite at Chapel Stile.

"We were suddenly stopped by a distraught farmer frantically trying to save his flock of sheep that were stranded on an island in the swollen River Rothay."

Bede, from Jarrow, near Newcastle, said that having pulled over to see if they could help farmer John Benson, John asked to use a mobile phone to call emergency services.

Upon closer inspection of the farmer, Bede said that John was 'shaking with fear for his flock'.

"I offered him a sausage roll but he said he could not eat as he would be sick," Bede said. "He did not want the animals to suffer. He was so concerned about the welfare of these animals."

However, John said that he was 'certainly no hero' for wading into the water to herd his flock of 32 Mule and Suffolk sheep to safety.

"I think any farmer would do the same," he said. "The water was no more than three foot deep. I was in no danger whatsoever. You do what you have got to do."

John, who lives at Skelwith Fold Farm, had been alerted to the water by fellow farmer Shaun Taylforth and immediately headed over to his flock.

Following the incident John said that he believes that if the river had been dredged, this would not have been a problem.

"I have been trying to get in touch with someone from the Environment Agency," he said. "Because Storm Desmond has left a lot of gravel and silt in the river. Dredging isn't done like it used to be."

Although John is insistent that his actions were not extraordinary, Bede said that he 'could not believe' what he witnessed.

"He came back to us and thanked us and I just thought what a lovely man, what a nice man," he said. "It's changed my view on the farming community. I could not understand how the farmer could risk his own life for sheep.

"What a hero. Our hearts go out to him."