Farmer worried over reindeer calf

A reindeer is valued at about £200

A farmer hoping to establish a herd of reindeer in Cambridgeshire is watching to see if one pregnant animal's calf survives after she was tranquilised.

Pregnant Lettie escaped while being unloaded at her new home in Burwash Manor Farm at Barton, last Thursday.

She has now been recovered but had to be anaesthetised, and there are fears this may have injured her unborn calf.

Farmer Mike Radford said he had brought Lettie and her mate from Guilford and the journey had upset her.

After a week-long search and numerous appeals she was spotted near Hardwick, about three miles from Burwash Manor, and a professional deer stalker shot her with a tranquiliser dart.

Following a long cross-country chase over several miles she was caught in Comberton and taken back to Burwash Manor to be reunited with her mate Soul.

Mr Radford, who grows organic wheat on his farm as well as raising cattle, sheep and pigs, said that Soul had really settled in but missed his mate.

"The pair are as wild as free ranging deer and when Lettie was unloaded she was frightened and leapt for freedom.

"There's a 50-50 chance she may lose the calf because of the anaesthetic so we're keeping a watch on her.

He added: "I hope to use the pair as the basis for a new herd."