The cow escaped from a horse float just after 6pm while the motorist in charge of the float was inside the restaurant.

Members of the public ran into the restaurant looking for the owner of the vehicle who then came rushing out trying to tame the beast who was by then running between cars in the McDonald's carpark.

Members of the public tried to encourage the cow back into the horse float and they stood with arms outstretched as they walked toward the large animal.

However, it was easily spooked and ran onto the highway towards the traffic a number of times.

By 6.35pm a member of the public had thrown a rope around the cow's head and tied it to a post in the carpark.

It was then led back into the float by the owner.

Police were called to the scene.

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