Families are in udder-disbelief the iconic cows on the roof of Dairy Crest in Hanworth have been remoo-ved.
Father-of-four Joachim Jellinek, 43, of Park Road, East Twickenham, launched an online campaign and petition on Tuesday (8), after his two-year-old son Cosmo pointed out their mysterious absence last weekend, and said he was "sad, no cows".
In 24 hours more than 30 people had signed the petition which asks the company to restore or replace the much loved animals, which for 37 years happily grazed on the dairy roof.
By Thursday (10) afternoon signatures had rocketed to more than 900.
Whopping number of readers for bring back cows campaign.
Petition handed into Dairy Crest to restore historic cows
Mr Jellinek, founder and director of The Positive Internet Company Ltd, said: "Driving home with my children last weekend, they pointed out the mysterious absence of the much loved cows, normally grazing happily on the dairy roof.
"I immediately investigated and contacted Dairy Crest, who explained that they had health and safety concerns about the condition of the cows and that they could make no promises to restore or replace them.
"Determined that this landmark on an otherwise very unremarkable building and stretch of road might otherwise be gone forever, I launched an online campaign and petition to lobby Dairy Crest, the sellers of such family favourites as Cathedral City cheese, Frijj milkshakes and Utterly Butterly."
It seems the steaks are high as people took to the petition website to air their views and stories attached to the six fibre glass cows which stood proudly overlooking Hounslow since 1977.
Serena Griffiths of Staines said it would be "a lost link with our past," and Gill Trenter of Whitton added "the cows have been a landmark since I moved to the area 37 years ago, they will be truly missed.
"Bring back the cows."
Stuart Durant of Richmond said: "The cows were an important part of the lives of my three children - they adored seeing them and used to shout 'the cows !' whenever they saw them. I'd like my grandchildren to have the same pleasure."
John Fox from Southampton, said: "I really miss seeing the cows atop the Dairy Crest, formerly Job's Dairy, building at Feltham.
"With the high level A316 passing close by at roof level the presence of the cows conveyed a lovely, almost bucolic, 'welcome' to London as motorists transitioned from the end of the M3 and began one's approach to central London via the A316. I would love to see the cows restored to their former position."
Ways to upgrade cow display for 40th anniversary.
Dairy Crest said the cows were taken down over the weekend and they were aware people had noticed having received a handful of complaints, but explained following a health and safety inspection they were not in great shape as the fixings attached were corroded and dangerous, therefore a risk.
A spokeswoman for Dairy Crest said: "We can confirm the cows have been taken down and are considering the options.
"It is a health and safety issue - they are quite high and we couldn't take any risk and hope people can understand."
The cows at the site will be looked and any costs involved considered before a decision is made on their future.
People will not rest until the cows come home!
Sign the petition at http://chn.ge/1r5X2qw
