TALK about being a pampered pooch. Cromwell, the six-foot tall canine that has taken up pride of place in Upton this summer, has had a bit of a trim.

As the 750kg plant structure grows and weather conditions change, his style continuously changes, in the manner of stars such as David Beckham updating their image.

But keeping the hair out of Cromwell’s eyes is not the only reason hairdresser Sue King was asked to tackle the particularly unusual client. The canine has proved such a hit since it was brought to town by Upton in Bloom that members wanted to ensure he was looking his best for the hundreds of people who continue to flock to the Old Churchyard to meet Cromwell and have their photo taken with him.

Upton in Bloom chairman, Jackie Surtees, said she always suspected Cromwell would be a tourist attraction in his own right as well as a unique addition to the town’s award-winning floral displays.

“He is very popular. The grass in front of him is worn down with so many people going to see him,” she said. “He must have had hundreds and hundreds of photos taken – with adults, children and other dogs.

“It's good to see that a lot of his visitors go into the tourist information and heritage centre as well.” Mrs Surtees said she had been surprised by just how much Cromwell’s hair had grown so much since he arrived in June. But his haircut was more than just a simple short back and sides.

“Sue thinned his hair rather than cutting it, as we wanted to keep most of the length but do it so the hair hung down more,” she said.