A life-size model cow – painted with the scenes of Surrey cyclists at Box Hill – has been recovered by Surrey Police almost five months after it disappeared.

The cow was recovered from a property in Newdigate and a man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of theft.

The cow was one of 60 painted fibre-glass models painted to adorn various locations across the Surrey Hills. They were produced as part of the ‘CowParade Surrey’ exhibition and Box Hill’s model, called ‘Cycling Moo Kay’, was painted by artist Charlie Rowbotham.

Each cow was designed to be auctioned off for charity, and ‘Cycling Moo Kay’ was produced to raise money for Cycling UK. After the theft, they had to have another painted – at a cost to the CowParade organisers – which went on to raise £4,500 at the Hampton Court Palace auction in November.

The model went missing in the night between August 18 and August 19, much to the distress of local cyclists who had enjoyed punctuating visits to the iconic climb with photo moments next to the cow, mounted next to the popular National Trust café.

The cow was recovered from a property in Newdigate, after Mole Valley police executed a search of the house. A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of theft and is currently in police custody. Cycling Moo Kay is being returned to the organisers of Cow Parade Surrey.