Notts animal lovers raced nearly 250 miles to halt the cull of healthy goats and sheep.

A Nottingham-based vegan food co-operative alerted a nationwide network of animal lovers when it heard of a proposed cull in the Scottish borders.

Fourteen goats and three sheep were due to die at the Mossburn Animal Sanctuary in Hightae as part of the fight to contain foot-and-mouth disease.

But Veggies Catering Campaign supporters set off from Notts at 3am to drive 244 miles to the town.

And after a six-hour journey they joined a human chain of protestors around the sanctuary to thwart the cull order.

After 15 hours on guard, (they) left the sanctuary on Thursday when the owner, Juanita Wilson, went to court to win a week's reprieve for her animals.

And now the Scottish Executive has announced a change of policy which means the goats and sheep are safe.

The executive will now no longer order the automatic culling of any livestock within three miles of infected farms in south-west Scotland and the borders.

(Campaign co-ordinator) Mr Smith said he was "delighted" by the policy reversal.

"For the last five days I have been in regular contact with Mossburn waiting with bated breath. Today I rang and spoke to the owner's daughter and found out the good news. It was excellent," he said.

Mrs Wilson said she was certain Mr Smith's actions helped saved her animals.

Three weeks ago he set up a country-wide network — Against Sanctuary Killings (ASK) — of animal lovers willing to give support to sanctuary owners facing legal moves to cull their animals.

Nearly 100 networkers went to the Mossburn sanctuary to stop Government vets slaughtering the animals.

Juanita said: "The vets would have tried to come in earlier but ASK was here. I can't thank them enough."

The Scottish Executive said there was little connection between high-profile Mossburn case and the decision to change the policy on culling.

A spokesman said: "Mrs Wilson met with our vets today and as long as she sticks to agreed conditions there will be no culling in the Mossburn sanctuary."

Further details of ASK Network