Farmer converts car into working sheepdog called Floss - mixed results

Set to work as a sheep dog Floss certainly had her advantages. She was quicker than most, always impressed onlookers and the sheep responded well.

But farmer Dave Isaac has reluctantly decided she has got to go because she was getting too difficult to handle. She was just too big to get through his farmyard gates and now needs a new home.

And the bizarre experiment of converting his Peugeot estate car into a working sheep dog called Floss has sadly come to an end down on his 180-acre farm.

Despite the disbelieving glances of his neighbours Dave, 46, spent £2,000 covering the family car in fur so it resembled an exact replica of his favourite sheep dog after she died.

With a top speed of 40mph he took his new look sheep dog out into the fields of his farm near Battle, East Sussex with surprisingly encouraging results.

He was delighted when the sheep seemed happy to be rounded up by a much larger animal with headlamps for eyes and an exhaust.

"I know it was a bit of a mad thing to do but it was a tribute to my old sheep dog Floss who passed away. I have three kids and we loved her and as a family we all missed her terribly.

"So I got together with a friend and we built Floss the sheep dog car in my barn, copying as closely as I could every last detail of my old dog.

"Sheep aren't known for their intelligence and didn't seem to notice the difference and were quite happy. We had a charity day on the farm and the car was a big hit," said Dave, who also has a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle.

The problem arose getting the vehicle, which is not licensed for public roads, along the narrow farm tracks and through the gates to his fields.

And the car, which needed a timber frame built around the chassis to attach the fur, has been taking up too much space in the barn of a busy working farm.

He added: "They were things we didn't really consider when we built her so with a heavy heart she is going on E-bay.

"It's been a lot of fun and she handles well, is obedient and nice and docile and surprisingly aerodynamic. But its back to the tried and tested traditional skills of the sheep dog again."

The farm is a well known landmark in Sussex adjacent to the site where William the Conqueror camped in 1066 the night before the Battle of Hastings.

Mr Isaac hopes Floss the sheep dog car may interest festival organisers or dog charities as a fun car. "As long as she goes to a good home I'll be happy," he said.