Infamous goats set to be culled

Attempts to keep the herd in the valley have failed

Councillors in North Devon have voted to cull some of the wild Lynton goats.

The animals have roamed for years within the Valley of Rocks but have been escaping and causing damage to trees and gardens nearby.

Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council voted at a meeting on Thursday to kill some of the troublesome goats which are on the wrong side of the fence.

Some local groups, including the Lynton Feral Goat Preservation Society, are against the move.

They believe the goats are an important part of the local heritage and a tourist draw.

'Dangerous pests'

There have been incidents in the past where the goats have strayed into town and snacked on plants and flowers in gardens, allotments and a local cemetery.

Some locals have described the goats as "destructive and dangerous pests".

The peppers were laced with caustic soda crystals and baited blue grain Poisoned peppers meant for goats

At a public meeting held last week, more than 100 residents voted to have the animals culled.

The council had decided in 2005 against culling the animals and voted to install fencing and a cattle grid.

In March, 12 green peppers poisoned with a substance similar to rat poison were found near to where the goats roam.

The RSPCA said they believed the peppers were meant for the goats.

The 80-strong goat herd grazes in the 300-acre valley in Exmoor National Park.