CANUTE Place roundabout's ‘Elvis’ will be perky one again thanks to a thief-deterring makeover.

The deer’s antlers have been stolen twice in the past year, with the latest theft occurring in June.

Cheshire East Council had previously footed the bill for the antlers, which have a price-tag of around £1,500, but the town council decided to branch out and consider alternative replacement antlers.

The matter was discussed at the council’s environment committee meeting earlier this month, where members agreed on a more inexpensive alternative – willow antlers.

Clr Yvonne Bancroft said she thought that willow antlers were a good deterrent for would-be thieves.

“They are clearly not real antlers, if somebody is stealing the antlers to turn a profit, that stops that right away,” she said.

Clr Bancroft also raised concerns about health and safety issues surrounding the use of real antlers, such as the possibility of cyclists being knocked down by a car, thrown in the direction of the roundabout and becoming impaled.

Fellow members pointed out that rolling onto the road from the roundabout into the path of oncoming cars would present a more realistic danger in a situation as such.

Clr Julian Goodrich agreed with Clr Bancroft that using willow for the replacement antlers would be a suitable solution.

“I like the idea of the willow,” he said. “It is a bit different; it is not attractive to thieves and would solve any health and safety issues.”

Clr Simon Huthence added: “I propose we get this done, Elvis looks really sad.”

An agreement was reached whereby Knutsford Town Council would pay the £50 bill for replacing Elvis’ antlers with a willow alternative.

The new antlers will be designed and created by willow and wire sculptor Juliette Hamilton, a former Reaseheath College student and Knutsford Makers Market exhibitor.