VOLUNTEERS have thanked the people of Swindon and Chiseldon for their generosity after a popular village sheep was saved.

Eric the sheep, who lives on grassland in the Chiseldon Washpool area, was injured last month after a stray dog attack.

He is part of a flock of six sheep looked after by the Washpool Area Restoration Project, a small conservation group that has spent the last ten years restoring a neglected valley at the heart of the village from a dumping ground into a nature reserve for everyone to enjoy.

When the cost of caring for Eric’s injuries became too high for volunteers to cope with, they reached out for support from the local community.

In the two weeks that followed, they have raised well over £1,000 and Eric is now firmly on the road to recovery.

Claire Maycock, one of the Washpool Area Restoration Project volunteers, said: “Since the Advertiser article was published we have raised well over £1,000 so we can now treat Eric for the extra month that the vet has recommended.

“A local farmer, Niall Jones, has been kind enough to take Eric in and is looking after him in his own pen next to some orphan lambs with whom he is now very friendly.

“In addition, Mel from Drove Farm Vets, who has been treating Eric, was so impressed by the community response that she is waiving all further fees for her time and will only be charging for the medicines used over the coming weeks.”

As the dog involved in the attack has not yet been identified, the volunteers are worried that this situation may arise with another member of the flock in the future.

To ensure they are prepared for such an eventuality, they are keeping their online fundraising page open for a further three weeks.

They will also continue to accept donations dropped off at 26 Turnball in Chiseldon.

Any money raised over this period will be placed into a standalone ‘sheep fund’ and will only be used to tend to the flock and to support work on their enclosure.

Claire added: “We really need to thank the community of Swindon, Chiseldon and the surrounding areas for the many donations and words of support.

“Running a long term community project can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle but the response to Eric's attack has been truly heart warming and is encouraging all of our volunteers on a daily basis.”

If you would like to support Eric’s continuing recovery, or help contribute to the ‘sheep fund’ then you can visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Help-Eric