Firefighters in the UK have apologised for feasting on pigs they had saved from a barn blaze.
The piglets and two sows were freed by firefighters from Pewsey, Wiltshire, only to be served up to them six months later as sausages
Farmer Rachel says she kept a promise to present the firefighters with sausages when the animals were slaughtered for their meat.
The firefighters enjoyed the "fantastic" sausages during a barbecue - but this seems not to have been to the taste of some critics who spotted the tale on Facebook.
Pewsey fire station posted a review of the sausages on Facebook. It has since been taken offline.
"Exactly six months and one day since firefighters rescued 18 piglets from a fire, we got to sample the fruits of our labours from that February night," the post said.
The firemen later apologised in a message saying: "In regard to a recent post on this page. We recognise that this has caused offence to some, we apologise for this and as such have removed the post."
The firefighters had saved the pigs from a barn fire in February when 60 tonnes of hay went up in smoke,
Mrs Rivers told the BBC she understood vegetarians wouldn't be impressed. But, she added, "we farm and this is what we do. You can't keep them as pets".
Mimi Bekhechi, of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), said: "These poor piglets were no better off for escaping the fire only to be put back into it six months later after being subjected to the horrifying experience of the abattoir."
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