RARE animals given a second chance of life at a rescue centre became the latest victims of the slaughtermen, yesterday.

Kate Wilson had to help destroy the animals when Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Maff) officials arrived.

Ms Wilson runs Ramshaw Animal Rescue, at Low Garth Farm, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, which lies within 1km of the nearest outbreak.

A pot-bellied pig, 14 rare sheep and a cow were killed.

She said: "Many of the sheep had been given to the centre because people thought they would never be slaughtered or sent to the butchers. That is why people bring them to me.

"They were all healthy, and in lamb. The cow I nursed as a tiny calf. It was dreadful when she was killed."

Despite the grim task, Ms Wilson was full of praise for the slaughtermen and Maff officials, who killed and removed the animals within half-an-hour.

"I was hysterical when the marksman arrived with a rifle," she said. "But they couldn't have been kinder or more efficient. They're not doing a very nice job, and none of them wanted to be there."

The rescue centre remains open.