A FLINTSHIRE woman came to the rescue of a sheep which was drowning on the banks of the River Dee.

Kirsty Armitage, from Flint, was walking her dog with friend Toni Mansfield close to Flint Castle when she came across the distressed animal.

The sheep had become stuck in a gutter on the edge of the river after the tide had gone out.

But Kirsty managed to pull the sheep out of the mud just in time, with the it already up to its neck in mud and swallowing dangerous amounts of water.

Kirsty said: “My friend and I were walking our dogs on our usual route. Sherlock, my dog, kept running off which is not like him but he had found the sheep up to its neck in the gutter in front of the castle.

“My friend held the dogs whilst I managed to pull the sheep out, it was difficult as the sheep was very heavy but it was swallowing water so I had to do something.”

“Very luckily I managed to pull it out and she was exhausted and could not walk.

The RLNI, whose base is close by, reacted to the commotion and sent out a life boat, believing Kirsty to be in distress

She added: “The RNLI approached me as they had seen me from the station and thought I was in danger.

“They kept the sheep warm and I contacted the farmer who was quick to attend. The RNLI had a plan to put the sheep in the boat and get her to the jetty to the farmer. I just hope she makes a full recovery.”