A herd of pigs is being used to help restore heathland at a beauty spot.
Eight Welsh porkers have been drafted in to help with an environmental project at Beacon Hill Country Park, near Loughborough.
Leicestershire County Council has employed the pigs to help clear unwanted species such as bracken, sycamore and birch scrub.
The pigs have been borrowed from Brooksby Melton College and it is anticipated they will help clear about an acre.
Byron Rhodes, county council cabinet member for country parks, said: "We are delighted to have these curly-tailed helpers join our ranks.
"It is the fourth year Brooksby Melton College has helped us in this way.
"The work the pigs do helps to disturb the ground, giving the chance for the dormant seeds of heather, bilberry and gorse to germinate."
Beacon Hill park staff already use English Longhorn cattle, Highland cattle and Manx Loaghtan sheep to keep down invasive species.
There are also five alpacas which help protect the sheep from dog attacks.
www.leics.gov.uk/beacon
