IN a shock move, Haslemere’s prominently positioned ‘Have a Butchers’ cow, has been rounded up and driven out of town before her time was up.

Hoisted into place outside Haslemere Town Hall by local firefighters and officially unveiled by mayor Sahran Abeysundara in July, the landmark artwork, which was part of the fundraising CowParade Surrey initiative, was supposed to occupy central stage until the end of August.

But a combination of bubbling paintwork and ‘night-time revellers’ trying to ride the cow rodeo-style while “under the influence” led to an urgent product recall last week before she reached her sell-by date.

Fears mounted the life-size cow had been stolen, following last week’s theft of ‘Cycling Moo Kay’, which was unbolted from its plinth at the top of Box Hill, near Dorking.

But the organisers were happy to report ‘Have a Butcher’s’ had not vanished completely, she had gone back to artist Diana Boyle for emergency repairs.

More than 60 cows have been decorated as part of the Surrey-wide initiative and they will all be auctioned off for charity. Sponsors Waitrose have nominated the Princes Countryside Trust to benefit from the auction proceeds of their three cows, and The Surrey Hills Trust Fund will also benefit from the auction of the supermarket’s Haslemere cow.

Responding to ‘Have a Butcher’s’ untimely exit, Surrey Hills marketing officer Caroline Price said: “The paintwork on it started to bubble up due to the weather and we think some night-time revellers may have been sitting on the cow and it rubbed some of the paintwork away – the easiest thing was for the cow to go back to the artist to be sorted out.

“She sadly won’t be back in Haslemere now as the parade is drawing to a close – but she will be at the Surrey Hills Festival of Food and Drink, at Coverwood Farm in Peaslake, on September 3 with all the other cows.”