A hungry cow derailed plans for a new road in Xintang village, Miluo city, Hubei Province after it ate much of the 33,000 yuan ($4,932) donated by residents for the project.

The funds were entrusted to village headman Liao Xinchun on October 3 who, because banks were closed for the National Day holiday, decided to cover the money with platic film and hide under a pile of hay in the cowshed. "The bottom of the straw pike was tramped down tightly and no one could see if I put the money there," Liao explained. However, the next morning, Liao was stunned to find only 12,000 yuan and some scraps of cash where he'd stored the money. Beside it was his cow, chewing contently.

Liao ordered a butcher to kill the cow and examined the beast's stomach where he found 5,000 more yuan, and many more scraps of masticated cash.

"If the bank cannot exchange all the money, I have to repay 26,800 yuan," said Liao sadly.