​A Glastonbury firefighter has been charged with the manslaughter of Somerset farmer Harold Lee.

Mr Lee, 75, was trampled to death by his cows as he walked them along a country road near his Burtle home.

It is alleged that the herd was spooked by the siren of an approaching fire engine, which was on its way to an emergency call.

Glastonbury's deputy station commander, Julian Lawford, 49, has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.

He stands accused of causing the animals to stampede over Mr Lee.

The incident happened on a B-road near Burtle, on the Somerset levels between Glastonbury and Burnham-on-Sea at about 3.20pm on August 11 last year.

Mr Lee was moving a herd of 100 dairy cows from a field towards their milking parlour at Robins Farm when the incident occurred.

He was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath, with serious head and chest injuries, before being transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol where he died six days later.

Mr Lawford was charged on Friday after answering bail at a police station in Somerset and was bailed to appear before Taunton Deane Magistrates’ Court on March 25.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: “A man has been charged in connection with the death of 75-year-old Harold Lee, who died from injuries sustained on August 11 last year, when the cows he was helping to herd from a field near the junction of Mark Road and Robins Lane, near Burtle, Somerset, stampeded.

“As a result of the police investigation, 49-year-old Julian Lawford has today been charged with manslaughter.”

Mr Lawford has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

Paul Slaven, spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, said: "We can confirm that we have suspended a firefighter who has been charged with manslaughter relating to an incident involving a fire appliance on 11 August, 2009.

'“As this matter will now proceed through the criminal courts we are not able to comment further. The thoughts of the service remain with Mr Lee’s family at this difficult time."