A WOMAN'S pet goat and sheep, which she saved from a cull, have died.

Linda Massey, of Norton, Teesside, has a small holding at Cowpen Bewley, near Billingham, where Sherry the sheep and Wilma the goat stayed.

The land is just 200 yards from an outbreak at Manor Farm.

Mrs Massey, 48, could not bear the thought of her healthy pets being culled.

She fastened a chain around her waist, threaded it through the gates at the entrance to her land and secured it with a padlock.

There was a stand-off, but she finally relented and, when a vet arrived, allowed him to inspect her animals.

Having found no sign of the disease in the pets, the vet granted a temporary reprieve.

However, her protests have been in vain. Wilma died on Sunday, and Mrs Massey allowed vets to kill Sherry.

Mrs Massey said yesterday: "I can't believe I have lost them after all that has happened. Wilma died suddenly of natural causes, and Sherry was distraught.

"I allowed them to put her down, because she would have pined to death without Wilma anyway. It has been a terrible turn of events."

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