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| Stray pigs 'leave gardens looking like Himalayas' | Stray pigs 'leave gardens looking like Himalayas' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Several pigs have dug up a number of lawns since August | Several pigs have dug up a number of lawns since August |
| A row has erupted in a village after stray pigs left several front lawns "looking like the Himalayas". | A row has erupted in a village after stray pigs left several front lawns "looking like the Himalayas". |
| Pigs have escaped from a farm in Garvestone, near Dereham, Norfolk, and trampled across nearby gardens on numerous occasions since August. | |
| Farmer Trevor Armiger said the pigs had taken flight after padlocks on his farm gates were broken by vandals. | Farmer Trevor Armiger said the pigs had taken flight after padlocks on his farm gates were broken by vandals. |
| Locals have accused Mr Armiger of failing to pay for the damage, but he said he had offered to. | Locals have accused Mr Armiger of failing to pay for the damage, but he said he had offered to. |
| Lorraine and Phil Williams say their garden resembles a "ploughed field" | Lorraine and Phil Williams say their garden resembles a "ploughed field" |
| "We couldn't believe our eyes when we opened the curtains last Monday morning to this," said Lorraine Williams, 63, who lives nearby with her husband Phil, 69. | "We couldn't believe our eyes when we opened the curtains last Monday morning to this," said Lorraine Williams, 63, who lives nearby with her husband Phil, 69. |
| "It's completely destroyed our front lawn. | "It's completely destroyed our front lawn. |
| "Personally I've chased {the pigs] up the lane myself. They soon run away and they know where to go." | "Personally I've chased {the pigs] up the lane myself. They soon run away and they know where to go." |
| Mrs Williams said they had been quoted up to £1,500 to have their lawn repaired. | Mrs Williams said they had been quoted up to £1,500 to have their lawn repaired. |
| "We're a bit hesitant to [have the work done] because it might happen again," she added. | "We're a bit hesitant to [have the work done] because it might happen again," she added. |
| Neighbour Caroline Harris said attempting to repair her lawn was "pointless" | Neighbour Caroline Harris said attempting to repair her lawn was "pointless" |
| Caroline Harris, who lives on Town Lane, said her lawn had also been dug up "half a dozen times". | Caroline Harris, who lives on Town Lane, said her lawn had also been dug up "half a dozen times". |
| "[The farmer] did come down to have a look at the damage but he said it wasn't his responsibility because it was someone else letting the pigs out," she said. | "[The farmer] did come down to have a look at the damage but he said it wasn't his responsibility because it was someone else letting the pigs out," she said. |
| "At no point, as far as I'm aware, has he recompensed." | "At no point, as far as I'm aware, has he recompensed." |
| Ms Harris said the police had been to the village twice to investigate but no action was taken. | Ms Harris said the police had been to the village twice to investigate but no action was taken. |
| Colin Williams captured images of the pigs on his lawn on his CCTV camera | Colin Williams captured images of the pigs on his lawn on his CCTV camera |
| Colin Williams, who posted photos of the pigs on his lawn on social media, said the damage had left his garden "looking like the Himalayas - only green". | Colin Williams, who posted photos of the pigs on his lawn on social media, said the damage had left his garden "looking like the Himalayas - only green". |
| "My lawn got turned over by the pigs in early January, but I know it's been happening in the village since about August," he said. | "My lawn got turned over by the pigs in early January, but I know it's been happening in the village since about August," he said. |
| "It's like the pigs have had a ploughing match on the lawns." | "It's like the pigs have had a ploughing match on the lawns." |
| Mr Williams said he knew of seven properties on Mattishall Road and Tanners Green that had also been affected. | Mr Williams said he knew of seven properties on Mattishall Road and Tanners Green that had also been affected. |
| Mr Williams said he reported the damage to the police | Mr Williams said he reported the damage to the police |
| Mr Armiger, 59, insisted he had offered to pay for some of the damage. | Mr Armiger, 59, insisted he had offered to pay for some of the damage. |
| "I told the man when he brought two of the pigs back to get a receipt or bill and 'I will pay you'," he said. | "I told the man when he brought two of the pigs back to get a receipt or bill and 'I will pay you'," he said. |
| "He took no notice and put it straight on Facebook." | "He took no notice and put it straight on Facebook." |
| "I've put an electric fence up now. Hopefully, we've got it secured." | "I've put an electric fence up now. Hopefully, we've got it secured." |
| Mr Arminger said he knew of three people who had broken padlocks on his farm gates and cut the fencing. | Mr Arminger said he knew of three people who had broken padlocks on his farm gates and cut the fencing. |
| Mr Armiger hopes an electric fence will help contain the wandering pigs | Mr Armiger hopes an electric fence will help contain the wandering pigs |
| Norfolk Police confirmed it had received a report of a fence being cut on 5 January. | Norfolk Police confirmed it had received a report of a fence being cut on 5 January. |
| A spokesperson added: "All lines of inquiry have been exhausted and the case has been closed." | A spokesperson added: "All lines of inquiry have been exhausted and the case has been closed." |
| The force said damage caused by the pigs was a civil matter under the Animals Act 1971, external. | The force said damage caused by the pigs was a civil matter under the Animals Act 1971, external. |
| Breckland Council has been approached for comment. | Breckland Council has been approached for comment. |
| Listen: Stray swine smash through Norfolk village | Listen: Stray swine smash through Norfolk village |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
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