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| Memorial vigil planned for shot Wallsend cow Bessie | Memorial vigil planned for shot Wallsend cow Bessie |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of people are expected to attend a memorial vigil for a cow which was shot dead by police marksmen. | Hundreds of people are expected to attend a memorial vigil for a cow which was shot dead by police marksmen. |
| The cow, nicknamed Bessie, was one of three which escaped Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside on Sunday. | The cow, nicknamed Bessie, was one of three which escaped Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside on Sunday. |
| A helicopter and six police marksmen tracked the trio - two were recaptured but Bessie was shot "in the interests of public safety". | |
| The vigil is to take place at 18:00 BST on Friday, at a field in Chicken Lane, Wallsend. | The vigil is to take place at 18:00 BST on Friday, at a field in Chicken Lane, Wallsend. |
| More than 6,000 people have liked a Facebook page set up in her memory. | More than 6,000 people have liked a Facebook page set up in her memory. |
| 'Serious send-off' | 'Serious send-off' |
| Those attending are asked to wear a cow onesie and bring a candle. | |
| Dave Turner, who set up the R.I.P. Wallsend Cow Facebook page, said: "It's not every day you get a cow getting shot in a field nearby. I think we need to mark this occasion with a serious send-off for Bessie. | Dave Turner, who set up the R.I.P. Wallsend Cow Facebook page, said: "It's not every day you get a cow getting shot in a field nearby. I think we need to mark this occasion with a serious send-off for Bessie. |
| "It wasn't doing anything, it was just eating a bit of grass - it probably got sick of the grass it was eating elsewhere, it heard about a nice new patch, went down and started grazing, and the next thing is police turn up and start firing at it. | "It wasn't doing anything, it was just eating a bit of grass - it probably got sick of the grass it was eating elsewhere, it heard about a nice new patch, went down and started grazing, and the next thing is police turn up and start firing at it. |
| "We are going to light candles and say a little prayer for her." | "We are going to light candles and say a little prayer for her." |
| A Northumbria Police spokesman said Bessie was destroyed after becoming "increasingly distressed" and "causing dangerous and severe obstructions" on a major road. | A Northumbria Police spokesman said Bessie was destroyed after becoming "increasingly distressed" and "causing dangerous and severe obstructions" on a major road. |