A woman today failed today in a bid to save her five pet sheep from being slaughtered as part of pre-emptive cull measures in light of foot-and-mouth disease.
Mrs Carolyn Hoffe had barricaded the five rare Dutch sheep in the living room of her home in Glasserton, near Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, to prevent British government officials from culling the animals.
She launched a legal challenge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh but following the three-hour hearing Lord Clarke said that he was not prepared to suspend the slaughter, which can now be carried out immediately.
After the court ruling, Mrs Hoffe wiped away tears and said she wanted the Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister Mr Nick Brown and Scottish rural affairs minister Mr Ross Finnie to come and see her sheep being killed.
Speaking outside her home, Mrs Hoffe said: "I want Tony Blair, Nick Brown and Ross Finnie to come and see them die. They should be here to see what people suffer.
"There is nothing wrong with these sheep. They pose no threat to anyone."
Sweeping her hand around her, she added: "Look at the fields. There is nothing in them at all."
Describing the outcome, she said: "I have a good case but they are going to kill them anyway. The courts have given the officials the right to come and shoot them."
(PA)