A family of pigs have been saved from slaughter after thousands of people signed a petition to rescue them.
Pregnant sow Matilda had escaped from a farm and given birth to ten piglets in the wild.
They were discovered by a dog walker in woodland near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, last Monday, prompting a rescue attempt by the Brinsley Animal Rescue charity.
But Matilda’s future looked bleak after farmers attended the site on Thursday afternoon and took her and her litter back to the abattoir.
A campaign was then launched to liberate the family – dubbed the “Ollerton 11” – and save them from being slaughtered.
The successful petition was signed by more than 6,000 people and gained support from as far away as the United States and Australia.
The pigs are now back with rescuers until they can all be rehomed.
In a post on the charity's Facebook page, a spokesperson said: “We cannot tell you how emotional we all feel but we have just picked up Matilda and all her babies.
“Thank you so, so much everybody for helping us to do this today and all the reporters that have taken this story around the world.
“We also thank the farm for allowing us to rescue this courageous girl and her beautiful babies.
“Matilda & her piglets have spent the first night of freedom with us resting. She is such a good mother to them, now she no longer needs to worry about their plight.
“Matilda will rear her piglets naturally, we'll be getting the males castrated in time and when they are all fit and well and independent, we'll be seeking life-long homes for them. We'll keep you updated.”
The Ollerton 11 received their moniker after the Tamworth Two – a pair of pigs that famously escaped while being unloaded from a lorry at an abattoir in Wiltshire in 1998.
The company involved, Wold Farms Breeding Ltd, has been approached for comment.
