A FAMILY theme park is now at the centre of a mystery kidnapping and ransom demand, involving a pair of pigs.

The two protected Kune Kune pigs, called Humbug and Truffle, hit the national headlines at the weekend after they were snatched from a pub garden at Torpoint.

While the police were looking for them, someone emailed Woodlands near Dartmouth asking if the tourist attraction, which has its own animal centre complete with 'pigs' palace', would take them on otherwise they would have to be shot.

Unaware the police were looking for the porkers, Woodlands staff agreed and the two animals were delivered last week in an estate car, one in the boot and the other in the back seat.

Now police have asked Woodlands staff to continue looking after the pigs while their investigation to sort out the exact identification of the two pigs and how Humbug and Truffle were snatched continues.

Staff at the family theme park have handed police details of the people who turned up with the two Kune Kune pigs, who they claimed were called Blacky and Fatty.

Colin Bake, the park's operations manager, said: "After reading the newspaper on Friday, staff at Woodlands were very shocked to find out these two pigs could possibly be stolen and being held for ransom for £200.

"They were donated to Woodlands with all the correct paperwork."

The two pigs disappeared from their enclosure in the two-acre grounds at the St John Inn near Torpoint last Wednesday.

Pub owners Dan Bettinson and Lauren Edlin found an answerphone message at the pub telling them the pigs were being ransomed for £200 which they were told to leave in a brown envelope in the red telephone box in the village of St John.

Whatever happens, the two pigs have to stay at Woodlands for the next fortnight at least because of Defra regulations about livestock movement.

The park's marketing executive Jessica Repton said: "Animals being gifted to our Zoo-Farm is not at all unusual.

"But in 20 years with all three of our parks we have never had anything like this happen to us before.

"We are now working closely with the local police and if we find out that the pigs are stolen, they will be returned safe and sound to their rightful owners."