FOR weeks they have been a familiar sight to residents of a Southampton housing estate.

Today four pigs that have roamed freely around the streets of Coxford are back under lock and key.

When the end came, it was hardly dramatic.

The Vietnamese pot-bellied porkers were simply rounded up by the RSPCA with help from the police and taken away to start a new life at an animal shelter in West Sussex.

There the female pigs have been named Nigella, Delia, Davina and Holly after famous television personalities.

Though many neighbours expressed concern for the animals’ welfare, as they had walked out in front of cars, most said they had liked the animals and confessed they had been feeding them scraps of bread and fruit whenever they appeared.

They are a major talking point for neighbours, one describing the experience as a real-life Babe: Pig in the City – in reference to the film featuring a talking pig.

The animals had taken refuge in the fields surrounding Aldermoor Farm, but had ventured out to the surrounding houses and been spotted on Aldermoor Road, Springford Gardens and even as far away as the Princess Anne Hospital.

Residents said the pigs would come right to their doorsteps.

Lesley Madine, 64, of Springford Gardens, said she had seen them in the early morning while walking her dog around Christmas.

She said: “They’re not a problem, they’re not vicious or anything, but it’s unusual – you sort of do a double take. They just trot along. It’s kind of cute in a funny sort of way.”

Fellow resident Vi Knight, 75, said she believed the pigs had been around for the past three months.

Daily Echo: Video news headlines from the Southern Daily Echo

She said: “They’re quite friendly. No one’s done anything about it. It’s all right until they get out onto the road and cause an accident.”

Sylwia Teleglow, 29, and daughter Oliwia, 2, were feeding one of the pigs.

She said: “We have seen them many times, they come in every morning.”

Andrea Such, 39, of Springford Gardens, said: “We feed them, I know you shouldn’t and it’s wrong – they’re snorting around the acorns.”

Sylvia Ridges, 77, of Springford Gardens said: “The other day he was right outside my door eating the grass and my granddaughter said ‘oh nan come out and have a look.’”

Siby Joseph, 31, of Springford Gardens, said: “When we’re going to the car they will come close to us and when we start the car they get frightened. It’s lovely, I like it.”

Bino Jose, 35, of Springford Gardens, said: “I usually go through that road, but it came opposite and it tends to block the road because it’s walking through the middle of the road and you need to stop the car because they have priority.

They’re harmless, the only thing is you just need to stop the car to let them go. My cousin says they sleep under the tree.”

Gemma Apark, 16, from Lordswood, and mother Michelle, 37, were left stunned when they saw the animal for the first time as they were walking round the estate house hunting.

Gemma said: “I thought it was a dog at first, but it was short and fat.”

Last night mystery surrounded who owned the pigs.

A source told the Daily Echo that they belonged to Karl Watkins, who lives in Puffin Close, but when contacted he denied they were his and said they were the property of Aldermoor Farm.

Sarah Macklin, who lives at Aldermoor Farm, denied she was the owner.

Hampshire Police had earlier said the incident might be linked to “a breakdown in the relationship” between the couple that owns the farm.

A spokesman said: “It appears there has been a breakdown in the relationship between the couple at the farm and somehow the pigs got loose.”

An RSPCA spokeswoman said the owner of the pigs had agreed to sign them over to the animal sanctuary and they had been found in good body condition.

The charity refused to reveal who the owner was.

The pigs have now been taken to the Alexandra Bastedo Champions Animal Sanctuary, in West Chiltington, near Chichester.

Ms Bastedo said she had been told her sanctuary was the last chance for the pigs after all other attempts to find them a home had failed.

“We had to take them, there was nowhere else for them to go – you can use your imagination as to where they would have gone otherwise,” she said.

They will stay there indefinitely unless they can be rehomed.