The owner of five pet sheep that were slaughtered under foot-and-mouth restrictions in Scotland last night branded government officials co-ordinating the cull as "evil people".
A widow, Mrs Carolyn Hoffe, earlier conceded defeat in her battle to save the Dutch Zwartbles sheep from the slaughter after a judge ruled that the Scottish Executive's culling programme should go ahead.
Last night, after a brief standoff at Mrs Hoffe's home in Glasserton, near Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, the sheep were killed with an injection by a vet and taken away in an army truck for burial.
Speaking after the bodies had been taken away, she said: "I can't believe that these animals were healthy and they killed them. It is murder.
"I just think they are evil people. They have murdered five beautiful, healthy sheep."
Officials, vets and a six-man army team, including Gurkhas, arrived at Mrs Hoffe's home to slaughter the animals.
Police had to remove protesters who had gathered at the gate to support Mrs Hoffe. One man was arrested and taken away before being released with a police warning. The slaughter team then made their way into Mrs Hoffe's home, where the sheep had been staying in the living room since Monday morning.
A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "The need for this approach was highlighted today when another case of foot-and-mouth was confirmed only this morning at a farm which totally encloses Mrs Hoffe's home.