Pig in muck: Recycler STUNNED to find escaped porker on a rubbish dump
A STUNNED recycling officer has nabbed a hungry runaway baby micro pig ripping open a pile of black bin bags.
A hungry runaway baby micro pig was found ripping open a pile of black bin bags
Adam McGoldrick initially thought he'd caught a dog rifling through the rubbish in Holland-on-Sea, near Clacton, Essex, yesterday.
But he had actually collared a 10-month-old micro pig called Pig Floyd who had escaped through a hole in a fence at his equestrian complex home.
Adrian, who had been doing his rounds, said: "It was more than a bit of a surprise and I wasn't sure what to do at first.
"We often have seagulls or other birds ripping the bags but never a pig!"
The council worker added: "I managed to round him up.
"But I had to call back to the office at Weeley for a dog warden to come and collect the pig in his van."
The 10-month-old pig called Pig Floyd had escaped through a hole in a fence at home
He has had quite the adventure
Dog warden Richard Heginbottom was already on the road when he got the bizarre request.
The two men lifted the squealing piggy into the van and took him back to Tendring District Council offices in Weeley where he caused quite a stir with staff.
He was nicknamed Hamlet, after boss Jonathan Hamlet, and lavished with attention.
Dog warden Richard Heginbottom was already on the road when he got the bizarre request
Luckily, technical officer Louise Sage remembered she had seen a black micro pig on a recent visit to Monty's Equestrian Centre.
And they managed to quickly reunite the runaway with overjoyed centre owners Paige Major and Taura Mayzubel.
They drove over to Weeley and persuaded their greedy pet into the front seat of the car with a slice of bread.
Penny the pampered pig has learned to sit on command
Miss Major said: "I went out to feed Pig Floyd at around 8.30am.
"We didn't realise he'd got out until we got the call from the council a couple of hours later."
She added: "I think he must have got through a hole in the fence and it's great to have him back safe and well.
"He has had quite the adventure."