A butcher was left udderly bemused after a cheeky thief stole a statue of a Friesian cow from right under his nose.

Trevor Morton, who owns Westdene Butchers in Eldred Avenue, Brighton, said one of his staff was working in the shop after it had closed when a man opened the unlocked door, picked up the cow and walked off.

The member of staff was so astonished by the man's brazen actions that he thought someone may have set it up as a joke.

But more than a week later the 2ft high by 3ft long statue has failed to reappear and Mr Morton says his disappearance has left customers bemused.

He said: “We closed the door at 8pm but it wasn't locked. We were all working in the shop when one of the guys saw this man looking at him through the window.

“He opened the door and put his foot half way in, grabbed the statue of the cow and ran off.

“It's not the easiest thing to carry; you have to lift it with two hands.”

Mr Morton said the man bundled the cow, which has been at the shop for about a year, into a blue Mazda which sped off towards Withdean Stadium.

The cow was taken at about 8.30pm on December 22.

Do you know the whereabouts of the Westdene Butchers cow? Call The Argus on 01273 544525.