Candlelit vigil to be held for escaped cow shot dead by police

A community is to stage a candlelit vigil in memory of an escaped cow which was gunned down by armed police. The animal was shot dead by officers after breaking loose from a country park in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, on Sunday afternoon.



Northumbria Police took decisive action after deeming the fugitive bovine 'a significant risk to members of the public and motorists'. "The decision was made for the animal to be destroyed by firearms officers at the scene," police said.



But some members of the local community are angry the animal was not spared. Over 6,500 people have now joined a Facebook group, named RIP Wallsend Cow, which has organised the vigil.



The organisers have invited people to wear cow onesies and bring candles to the field where the animal, which they have called Bessie, met her end this coming Friday at 6.30pm. Two other cows which also escaped were safely rounded up, following a huge emergency response which included a police helicopter.