Matilda the pig decided she didn't want to give birth in captivity so last week the heavily-pregnant sow broke out of the farm where she was being kept in Nottinghamshire, central England.

After giving birth to nine piglets in woodland, she was spotted by a walker. As an online campaign began to find them a safe home, volunteers brought food for the family.

Local animal charity Brinsley Animal Rescue has now agreed to take the animals and has already raised more than $1,500 in donations for their upkeep. The charity said it will ultimately seek to have the babies adopted.

"Wherever she has come from, she deserves a safe and happy life with her little family," said Anna Aston, who found the escapees. 

"I think she has earned her freedom now."

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Brinsley Animal Rescue said on its Facebook page that Matilda and her litter are safe and well.

The charity was founded in 2001 by an animal-loving couple, who began to rescue pets but soon expanded to care for farm animals too. 

The organization which described itself as "run on vegan values" said it would name one of Matilda's piglets Regan, after an animal rights activist who reportedly died at a protest at a slaughterhouse.