A giant bullock from Somerset could be Britain's tallest cow, his owners have said.

The black and white Friesian, named Chilli, stands at 6ft 6ins and weighs a whopping 1.25 tonnes.

He lives at Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Chard.

Sanctuary workers have now applied to the Guinness Book of Records to have Chilli named as the UK's tallest cow.

Naomi Clarke, care manager of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary, said: "As he was growing up we began noticing that he was bigger than our other cattle.

"He now stands at 6ft 6ins from the floor to the top of his shoulder and he is massive when he holds his head up.

"We have made an application to Guinness Book of Records and we are quite confident he will get it."

"We have checked farms and sanctuaries across the country and we have been unable to find a cow even near his height," added the sanctuary's Jo Fox.

Nine-year-old Chilli is kept on a strict diet of grass, with the occasional swede as a treat

According to Miss Clarke, Chilli, who is the same height as a small elephant, has grown so tall because of the "Somerset air".

A typical adult Friesian weighs about 0.65 tonnes and is around 5ft high.