IT SEEMS Dartmoor Happy Hog's missing pig is living it up on the Continent and a little pinker than usual!

Staff were concerned following the disappearance last week of the company mascot — a three-foot high fibre-glass pig which stood outside the shop at Whiddon Down — and offered a reward of 100 sausages for its safe return.

But what should arrive on the doorstep of the shop on Wednesday? A piggy postcard with a Barcelona postmark which read: 'Good news, I have escaped and am having a little holiday.

'As you can see I am really exhausted. It was a long trek but I hope to move on soon as I am frying a bit now — perhaps to Hamburg!! Hee hee. Love, a very happy pig.'

Owner of the pig and the business Peter Pavitt said when the postcard arrived everybody had a giggle.

'At least we know he is safe,' he added jokingly. 'But as to the real whereabouts of the pig, we have no clues at the moment.'

Wanted posters have gone up around the shop and police are busy trying to smoke out the thief. The pig was a present to Mr Pavitt and is valued at £50.