MAURAUDING pigs in Carhampton may have been given their final marching orders.

In September the Free Press reported the damage done to Carhampton's historic churchyard by a pair of escapee pigs from an adjoining paddock.

They churned up land and graves in a series of 'break-ins' and left a scene of devastation in their wake.

Local villagers banded together to clear up the mess but this week one resident - who asked not to be named - said the pigs had been up to their old antics again.

"It's twice as bad as it was last time," he said. "Several graves have been desecrated - it's a dreadful mess."

But the Rev Michael Allso, assistant priest to the Dunster Benefice, told the Free Press he hoped the situation was about to be resolved.

He said a meeting of the local parochial church council on Tuesday had decided to investigate fencing the churchyard - which is one of the biggest in Somerset.

In addition, animal welfare officers from Defra had contacted the owner of the pigs who had agreed to keep them in a shed in the adjoining paddock.

"Obviously we don't want to go to the expense of fencing if we don't have to and it wouldn't be that straightforward as there is a badger sett where the pigs have been getting in," said Mr Allso.

"We are hoping that the situation will resolve itself and that the pigs will be kept in."

Mr Allso said the church council had also agreed that it would pay for a contractor to reinstate the damage.

"We don't really have the money but we feel we have to pay for this to be put back as it was.

"We are just hoping that this will be an end to the problem."