A stray cow chased a couple on a motorcycle and then trampled the wife as she tried to flee from the beast.

The bovine ran after the pair while they were riding the two-wheeler with the woman as a pillion passenger in Modasa in Gujarat, India, on June 16.

When the vehicle stopped, the frantic wife tried to shoo away the farm animal but in her panic, she climbed down and tried to escape. The cow then continued to pursue her.

CCTV footage shows the angry cow charging at the back of the wife, who fell to the ground. It then stepped on the woman and kicked her with its hoofs while the husband and concerned onlookers rushed over to try and scare it away.

However, the cow refused to leave the woman until a nearby petrol station employee with a stick managed to hit it and make it turn back.

The wife was taken to the hospital for her injuries. She is in a stable condition and recovering.

It was unclear why the cow became aggressive and chased the motorists, but despite the attack, it was allowed to continue roaming the busy streets.

Hinduism, the dominant religion in India, considers the cow sacred. This has led to laws prohibiting cow slaughter in most Indian states.

Many farmers abandon unproductive or ageing cows on the streets rather than maintaining them after they stop giving milk or working in the fields. As a result, the beasts roam freely - often causing traffic chaos or attacking residents.