Delightful graveyard sheep saved after torrent of public support

A pair of young sheep that "alarmed" a visitor to the cemetery they tend, causing her to fall over, will not be sold off after a "torrent" of local support.

The black ewes were brought to Mount Road Cemetery in St Asaph in Denbighshire two years ago to nibble the grass and weeds on the sprawling grounds .

Since then, the ewes, who were raised as pets and have no fear of humans or dogs, have made friends with visitors as they look for feed and attention.

But when their "in your face" demeanour caused a woman to fall after trying to run away it was announced they would be sold off.

Duncan Cameron, a retired paediatrician and St Asaph Parish Church member, who lives nearby, helps to look after the cemetery.

He said the woman who tripped after becoming "alarmed" by the sheep posted her concerns on social media, saying she was worried about children potentially getting hurt.

"They can be a bit in your face," Cameron said of the two-year-old sheep, explaining they can behave a bit like "teenagers".

He added that because they were raised as pets they naturally seek "feed and attention".

Cameron wrote an apology to the lady, explaining in a social media post how they planned to get rid of the sheep over the coming months.

"There was a torrent of support for the sheep in response," he said.

People wrote about how much the animals are loved, with children coming to play with them and even elderly people with dementia coming and being soothed by them.

"Don't sell them. My son loves them," said one post on a local Facebook group.

"Leave the sheep alone," said another.

"I walk through the cemetery twice a day and they are no bother at all... They are all a delight."

After a "vote of confidence from the people", Cameron said they have decided the sheep can stay.

"They do such a good job of keeping grass at bay," he said, adding that with 700 graves at the cemetery, not having the sheep at the site made it "unmanageable".

"Instead of us smashing our mowers against the grave stones the sheep nibble around them so neatly, " he added.

Cameron has also posted a notice at the cemetery entrances telling people to clap their hands and shout in the case of unwanted attention.

"If you do that they'll just head on," he said.