SHEEP which had suffered prolonged neglect have been adopted by Evesham's Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Stephen Hocken, 72, of Middle Littleton was banned from keeping sheep for life last month after the RSPCA was called with concerns about sheep - who were kept on land in Pebworth - by a vet who was shocked to find 12 of the 28 sheep to be suffering.

Some were emaciated with others suffering with untreated wounds, abscesses, ear infections and fly strike.

The animals have now been adopted by the Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Jan Taylor, founder and manager at the sanctuary said: "We were able to borrow the money to buy them.

"Given their age and condition it's more than likely they would all have been sent into market and would have gone for slaughter.

"All of the ewes are in lamb, their condition is improving, we're expecting the first lambing sometime in early March.

"They're eating us out of house and home but it's all been worth it, they're sheltered and fed and will all spend the rest of their lives with us."

A spokesman for the sanctuary added: "The same flock that in June, with the help of an RSPCA officer, our vet and our local police we were able to remove 11 ewes from who were suffering from severe flystrike, abscesses and dehydration. Two of them were close to death; maggots had destroyed large areas of flesh which had become infected. They were also full of worms.

"This was one of the worst cases of neglect we'd seen or heard about relating to sheep.

"They looked miserable and they were underfed.

"The ewes are now looking contented, well fed and relaxed.

"Had we not bought them they would all have been sent to market and then most likely would have gone straight for slaughter because of their age."