Queen (and berserk boar) free prisoners

Two prisoners have been freed early under a 900-year-old royal decree for saving the life of a jail official who was being gored by a rampaging boar.

The inmates came to the rescue after the animal used its tusks to tear an 18cm gash in the leg of Roger Murray, farm manager at Prescoed jail in south Wales. Mr Murray's foot was nearly severed and he was bleeding heavily from wounds ­ which needed 89 stitches ­ when he was dragged to safety.

Mark Collerton, 32, jailed for wounding, and Andrew Good, 33, a convicted thief, were freed last week, having had 28 days cut from their 18 months' imprisonment under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. The decree was introduced in Norman times and is used about six times a year to reward prisoners for acts of courage.

The early release, approved by the former home secretary Jack Straw, followed a plea on their behalf by Mr Murray, who said: "I'm just so grateful to them. They saved my life."

The Royal Berkshire boar attacked Mr Murray last August as he was moving the animal to the piggery to cut its tusks. The boar was furious at being separated from its sow and went berserk when it saw a rival male.

Mr Murray, 52, was thrown into the air and gored. He said: "The pain was horrendous. I passed out through the shock but Andrew and Mark managed to stem the flow of blood and bring me round. They didn't desert me. They squeezed my wellington boot against the wound and lifted my leg in the air to stop the blood loss. Then they used my radio to call for help."