Farm on the M62: The borrowed tup that smashed through a window and made a mad dash to freedom - Jill Thorp

“You’re not going to believe this, but......”

I became convinced that he was heading home and like something out of a Disney movie, he would make the long and perilous journey from the bright sunny skies of Yorkshire across the dark and dismal valleys of Lancashire all the way back to Whitworth. As the weeks turned into months and with no sightings we sort of put him out of our minds. Until a couple of days ago, when a phone call out of the blue reminded us that he was still at large. He’d done pretty well and covered a fair distance until he’d decided to settle in a paddock with some unsuspecting ponies. He of course took some catching and wasn’t going to give up his freedom that easily. As Paul’s dog, Sam set about the job in hand, the lady whose paddock the Lancastrian lout had taken up residence in explained how he’d just appeared one day and despite vanishing for up to a week at a time, he just kept coming back. Her son, roughly the same age as the little guy had other ideas for the Lonk when he piped up

“Wi were gonna eat him Mister”

Which would no doubt have saved us a whole host of bother, but alas after he beat poor old Sam black and blue before eventually surrendering to Paul’s weight as he was rugby tackled to the ground, he was driven under armed escort back across the border. He remained in the trailer that evening where he was fed and watered whilst we made contact with his rightful owner. I fear, however, that he will not be wanted back in Whitworth and his days are most definitely numbered here. So, if anyone is in need of a well bred Lonk tup and has twenty foot high, mains fed perimeter fencing, he’s yours!