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Minchinhampton brought to a standstill by Highland cows

Annie Blick Highland cattle walking down a road with cars and people behind them, watching on and taking photographsAnnie Blick
Plenty of onlookers enjoyed the spectacle of the herd walking through Minchinhampton

A herd of Highland cattle turned heads as they brought a Gloucestershire town centre to a standstill.

Drivers and pedestrians looked on as the cows made their way along Minchinhampton High Street.

Owner Joyce Jones led her herd along the road to a new field where they will be tested for tuberculosis (TB).

She said far from being frustrated with delays, people enjoyed the spectacle, adding: "I know everybody in and around Minchinhampton loves them."

Images of Ms Jones' herd taking over Minchinhampton have been popular on social media in recent days.

"I love people seeing them. They just love to see the spectacle so it makes me very proud," she said.

The herd will be moved to Minchinhampton Common for summer grazing in May.

Trish Bloodworth Highland cows being moved along by farmers as they hold up a line of traffic behind them, including a busTrish Bloodworth
Buses and cars had to wait as the herd made their way to a new field

Ms Jones said the cows were very "space aware" and despite the fears of drivers, would not scratch cars.

"They're like most animals that have got big whiskers," Ms Jones said.

"I can see people in their cars thinking, 'I'm going to get my car scratched in a minute', but they don't.

"The know the end of their horns and very much where they can put them."

However, she said they can be "very feisty" when they want to be.

"They've got a mind of their own as they proved because four of them ran off and got onto the common," Ms Jones said.

"A lot of people seem to think they're very placid, that they can probably go up and touch them but I wouldn't advise anybody to approach them.

"All those cows have to do is swish their head with those horns and you'd know it."

Ms Jones has owned the cows for most of their lives, with the eldest aged 19 and the youngest 14.

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