EVEN though the ewe had been earmarked for slaughter, the sight of her struggling to give birth was too much to ignore.

And for soldiers drafted in to help deal with the foot-and-mouth outbreak, the farmer's dedication to livestock made a lasting impression.

Bombardier Alan Brotheridge was with a farmer on an infected farm at Hexham, Northumberland, when they found the sheep.

He said: "He pulled one out then he pulled another out. The sheep and the lambs were slaughtered a few hours later, but he was committed to them to the last."

Bdr Brotheridge and Gunner Brendan Smith are one of 40 two-man teams from 32 Regiment of the Royal Artillery helping to try to get on top of the disease in affected areas north of the River Tyne.

They have already spent a week on a farm at Hallington, where a flock of Suffolk sheep was slaughtered.

Bdr Brotheridge said: "When they were slaughtering the sheep I felt fine, but when you look over your shoulder at the farmer around the corner you get a lump in your throat.

"The farmer was quite level-headed, considering what he was going through. His wife told me he had been crying, but he was not going to show that to us.

"We were there to give a sympathetic ear to the farmer, to be someone for them to talk to, as well as sorting out any problems they might have."

The two-man team left on Sunday, after spending six days at the farm.

Bdr Brotheridge said: "It is a sad thing to do, but I think we have made a massive difference. The farmer said he would be at a loss once we had left.

"If we are ever up here again we will go down the pub and have a pint, in happier circumstances."