HUNDREDS of people have joined a Facebook campaign to help a family of pigs under threat of eviction from their Wirral home.

Kune pigs Sally and George live with their piglets Peppa and Nigel on a fenced-off piece of land in Scott Road, Liscard.

But this week, their owner Susan Kaye received a letter from the council following complaints from neighbours.

It informed her that she does not have planning permission to keep the pigs on site and advised that they should be moved to a more suitable location.

More than 2,000 people have now joined a Facebook campaign to keep the family of New Zealand pigs where they are and more than 200 have signed a petition.

Susan Kaye told the Globe: "It's an unbelievable situation. They've lived here with no problems for the last six years and suddenly, because one person complains, we're told we have no permission to have them here and might have to move them.

"We don't know what will happen to them if they have to move. It's ridiculous.

"You don't have to have planning permission to keep a dog in your garden, so why should it be any different for pigs?

"Everyone loves them, they are part of the local community. We take them to the park.

"I'm not going down without a fight."

The letter, which was sent on January 28, read: "The land does not benefit from planning permission to be used for the keeping of pigs and therefore constitutes a breach of planning control.

"The structures erected on the land and the caravan sited on the land also do not benefit from planning permission and constitute a further breach of planning control."

The letter states that it would cost £395 to apply for permission, but adds "However, the council does not consider this site to be appropriate for keeping pigs, given the adverse impact of the amenity on neighbouring properties.

"The council, therefore, recommends that you seek an alternative site."

Susan's friend Tracy Harris said: "We can't move pigs, because it can cause them to have a heart attack and get stressed.

"We don't know where they would go if they had to move. This has been their home for the last six years.

"Neighbours and all the kids come to visit.

"It's not right for the council to send this letter, because the pigs aren't doing any harm - this is their home."

Neighbour Steve Mole added: "The pigs have lived here for six years and have never been a problem. If anything, it's a very community spirited thing, teaching people about respecting animals."

Neighbour Alan Hess lives with his wife and teenage son next door to the sty.

The 67-year-old finance broker is among neigbhours who complained about the pigs and feels they should be moved to a more appropriate location.

He has set up an online campaign called "Who wants to Live Next to a Pig's Sty" and has started a petition to get the pigs removed.

He told the Globe: "Our health has completely deteriorated over the years and we're putting this down possibly to the pig slurry.

"We've got nothing against Suzie, personally.

"She's a wonderful girl and absolutely brilliant with the pigs, giving them a wonderful life; but it's to the detriment of the environment.

"We don't want the pigs to be slaughtered. I'm an animal lover, can't abide cruelty.

"We have no wish to see the pigs slaughtered, but at the end of the day we can't live with them next door. We want them to be moved to more appropriate location.

"The smell from the slurry is not so bad during the winter, but in the summer it's abhorrent. We feel our lives are being destroyed.

"At the end of the day, Suzie's passionate about animals, which is absolutely fine, but I'm passionate about my family.

"I've lived here since 1948, and never had any hassle in this area until the pigs arrived.

"Now I can't sell the property. I was thinking of selling up."

To join the campaign to keep the pigs in Scott Road, click here.