Sheep is spared chop after escape

Myfanwy proved difficult to round up on the island

A sheep called Myfanwy has been spared the slaughterhouse after a daring escape from a farmer in north Wales.

The sheep was being rounded up to be taken to a fatstock market and onto an abattoir, when she managed to swim across a lake to a small island.

She spent six weeks there before being brought back.

Now farmer Philip Robinson, from Nannerch near Mold, has decided to adopt her as the farm pet.

Mr Robinson was rounding up 30 sheep, which had run across a field towards the lake.

But Myfanwy had been left to rest on the ground.

Before the farmer could reach her with his dog, she pulled herself up and swam 30 yards across the water, which is used for fly-fishing.

After a short holiday on her own private island, living on reeds and vegetation, the eight-year-old ewe was brought back.

Mr Robinson said: "I left her for six weeks because we were busy with lambing and I took a boat over the island. When I tried to reach her, it was difficult..she ended up trying to swim back again".

The 44-year-old farmer, who has 600 ewes, said adoption by a farm park was one option, unless her celebrity takes her to pastures new.

It has echoes of the Tamworth Two, when two pigs were spared after swimming across a river and going on the run in 1998.

Their story was later turned into a film.

As for Myfanwy, she is open to offers, although temperamental.

Mr Robinson said: "You get to know the problem sheep but she had not shown herself before. We decided to give her a reprieve - she's like a pet now, out in the field with the rams but you can't really get near her.

"She's a bit lively and a bit of a runner!"