A MUCH-LOVED sheep has been saved after a new home was found for him while he was facing eviction by the church.

Bertie the sheep’s future was far from certain after his owner, Paul Tidy, was given until the end of the month to find somewhere else for the Dutch Texel to graze.

Wardens at Emmanuel Church, in Saltburn, east Cleveland, served the former Army veterinary assistant with the news at the weekend.

The sheep has grazed in the church grounds since 2007 and has become hugely popular in the town.

Since he was told to remove the animal, Mr Tidy has been overwhelmed by support and offers of help from across the community.

“The public support has been absolutely amazing,” said the 44- year-old.

“We never thought it would come to this with the church.

we were really shocked by their decision but the amount of calls and offers of help we have received has been overwhelming.

“There are number of definite offers from people and there is a family from Brotton who are very keen to take Bertie.

“Obviously, there will be a lot of paperwork to carry out before he can be moved but it is looking extremely promising.”

More than 260 people joined a support group on social networking site Facebook to ensure that Bertie found a new home.

Council worker Mr Tidy said: “The amount of interest we have had has been staggering, while the behaviour of the church has been disgraceful.

“I can’t understand why they are treating the sheep like this, everyone loves seeing him grazing in the grounds and he never does any damage.

“He couldn’t live on a farm with other sheep because he is used to being around humans too much.

“We bring him down home on a night and he lives in the back yard of house with our dogs.”

Eleanor Course, communications officer for the Diocese of York, which owns the church, defended the decision.

She said: “While we recognise that a lot of people have a great deal of affection for Bertie, the situation was becoming difficult for the church and damaging for the sheep.

“Bertie is in a vulnerable position while in the church grounds – he was attacked and untethered last year, and now he is fully grown, it’s unsuitable for him to be tied up on such a small piece of land.”