Piglets saved from barn fire are served as sausages to firefighters who rescued them

'Vegetarians would hate this,' farmer says

The piglets (not pictured) were rescued by the firefighters (Getty)

A litter of piglets who were rescued from a barn fire in Wiltshire have been served up as sausages to the firefighters who saved them.

Eighteen piglets and two female pigs, which had been reared for meat, were saved from a fire at a farm in Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire.

Six months later, the animals were turned into sausages and given as a gift to the Pewsey fire team to say thanks, where they were served on a barbecue.

Farmer Rachel Rivers told the BBC: “I’m sure vegetarians will hate this.” The firefighters added the sausages were “highly recommended”.

“I wanted to thank them. I promised them at the time I'd bring down some sausages for them, which they were all pleased about.

“I gave those animals the best quality of life I could ever give until the time they go to slaughter and they go into the food chain.

“You do feel sad at the end of it... but to bring them down for their [the firefighters] Monday night practice was a good way of saying 'thank you'.”

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service thanked the farmer and added that the sausages were “fantastic”.