Narrow squeak for this little pig that didn't go to market

This little piggy fell off the back of a lorry on her way not "to market" but to an abattoir.

And it would seem the painful tumble must undoubtedly have saved the tiny Tamworth's life - unlike that of her mother who is believed to have given birth inside an animal transporter on her way to the slaughterhouse. Squeaky was just a few minutes old when she rolled out of the trailer and onto a road in Poolsbrook near Chesterfield - straight into the path of traffic.

Thankfully she was spotted by motorist Anthony Davies as he was driving home with his family. He swerved, screeched to a halt, and scooped up the tiny piglet - then took her straight to the RSPCA Animal Centre in Chesterfield.

Already the shelter has been flooded with offers of a new home for Squeaky when she is old enough to be "adopted" in about seven weeks' time.

Shelter manager Richard Woodwards said: "She is a lucky little pig and is one of the most unusual arrivals we have had.

"She can't have been more than half an hour old when she was brought in because her umbilical cord was attached and it was still wet.

"We believe the piglet has just rolled out through a gap in the trailer. She had grazes down her back as if she's rolled down the road.

"Luckily for her Mr Davies was driving along the road and spotted her. He almost hit her but managed to swerve around and stop."