PIGS definitely do fly, the Echo can reveal.

Dorset porkers regularly get airborne in a private jet to migrate to a vast estate on the Hebridean island of Islay.

But these particular animals were fairly well up in the world before they took to the skies - coming as they do from the Cranborne domain of Lord Salisbury.

It all started when Lady Cranborne as she then was decided to buy her husband a large black pig for a Christmas present.

Lord Cranborne began to develop his interest in rare breed pigs which has developed into a nice little business which supplies Dorset's farmers' markets.

When his pal billionaire banker Bruno Schroder needed some pigs for his 16,000 acre estate it was only natural that his lordship should supply the beasts.

Independent breeders Bryan and Mary Card from Boveridge who work closely with the Cranborne estate drove up to Scotland.

"It takes 14 hours - longer if you miss the ferry from the mainland," said Mary.

So the next time Mr Schroder came to Bournemouth International and picked up the animals - this time Mary's speciality, the middle whites - in his private £1.5 million turbo-prop.

Estate stockwoman Trina Baker said: "We had to crate them up and take them down to Hurn. This woman who took us across the runway - she couldn't believe we were flying pigs up there but it's much better for their welfare."

There have been four deliveries by air so far and Bruno uses the pigs for land management.

"He so loves his pigs he has established the Middle White Pig Trust conservation breeding unit on Islay," Mary said.

The enthusiasm of Trina, Mary and Bryan is infectious.

Their animals roam in the woods behind electric fencing - they don't grow as quickly as animals grown for the mass market but they taste great.

Bryan sells the sausages and burgers made from the superior pork in his wayside cafe at Woodyates.

Mary said: "When I started with livestock as a child I wouldn't eat anything I had seen running around but I do now because I know what they have had to eat and that they have had a welfare-friendly life.

"To preserve the rare breeds we have got to eat them, " she said.