Pigs that escaped a slaughterhouse and wreaked havoc on a busy road are saved

A hero saved nine pigs from the chop after police shot five others blocking a major road.

The pigs caused mayhem on the A127 at Dunton, near Basildon, Essex, after darting between cars and forcing the road to close for around two hours on October 18.

Police said five were shot at the scene for safety reasons after ‘all options to secure them or remove them’ from the area had been exhausted.

But nine other pigs have now been given a new lease of life at an animal sanctuary after a fundraising appeal helped save their bacon.

It is still unclear where the pigs originally came from. Police previously said they had escaped on the A127.

Martin Morgan, who runs Tower Hill Stables in Asheldham with Fiona Oakes, initially thought he would be rescuing just one pig after it took refuge in a resident’s garden.

The animal, later named Abigail, had also been due to be shot before the homeowner intervened.

Martin said: ‘We managed to get the little pig into the van and thought that was the end of it.’

But he soon discovered more pigs were facing the same fate, with eight due to be slaughtered on Tuesday.

The farmer had temporarily housed the animals after they escaped but, having failed to find them new homes, said he needed the shed back for his business and had arranged for someone to shoot them.

Martin said: ‘It is not rational as pigs get slaughtered every day, but when you get to know who the pigs are it is impossible to say no.’

He admitted the decision to take them in left him losing sleep as the sanctuary was already struggling to cover its costs.

He said: ‘I didn’t sleep the night we were told about it because I did not think we could fit them in – like most sanctuaries, we are struggling.’

The sanctuary cleared a shed for the newcomers, joining around 80 horses, 50 cows, 75 goats and hundreds of other rescued animals.

An online fundraiser has since raised almost £6,000 towards the pigs’ care, helping them dodge the chop.

Martin said: ‘I’m very grateful to everyone who has donated and continues to donate for the feed bills because looking after 400 animals is a tall order. I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and since Covid we have lost support. We are really relying on donations now.’

The sanctuary estimates its running costs at £30,000 a month and has launched an appeal to help cover expenses and care for the pigs over the next decade.

Martin said the rescued animals would be kept apart by sex, while three have already been reunited with what appears to be their mum.

Essex Police previously said 20 pigs had escaped onto the A127, although it remains unclear where they originally came from or whether any others are still missing.

Officers said they had sought advice from the Animal and Plant Health Agency about the potential risk of serious harm posed by the animals.

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