AN ECO-conscious family are running a mini-farm in the middle of Ealing with two pigs, 21 chickens and two bee hives.

Jono Paynter, 24, cleared an overgrown patch of his garden at the back of the vicarage in Church Close, South Ealing with brothers Luke, 18, Matt, 21, and Dan, 23, to make space for the porkers.

Jono, 24, and his dad Steve, the vicar of St Mary's Church, then built the pen to house them.

He said: “I love showing people, it’s not something you see in everyday life in London. I think people are a bit shocked. They can’t really believe it’s in Ealing.”

The latest pigs, two saddlebacks, arrived on Thursday (16) after the first couple, Gloucester old spots, were sent to the abattoir in October, weighing about 110 kilos.

Pupils from the nearby Grange Primary School have been among those enjoying their company, even jumping in the pen to give them a scratch when they visited last year.

Law student Jono came up with the idea of keeping the pigs and is in charge of looking after them. Despite all the love and care needed to rear the piglets, he knows he can’t get too attached as they are destined for the dinner table.

He said: “I always knew that time would come. I was surprised when we got to the abattoir. It wasn’t some stainless steel factory which the pigs get pushed through but a barn with lots of straw. I knew what was going to happen but seeing them playing in the straw beforehand made me feel a bit happier.

The pigs have been named Trigger and Dave after the Only Fools and Horses characters, following on from their predecessors which were called Del Boy and Rodney (Trotter).

Last year the two pigs were divided between the family of six and a relative. This year demand has grown with the first being split between the Paynters and another family and the second divided among four other people.

Jono said: “There’s space to expand so you never know what might happen in the future. I’m interested in keeping goats but I think that might be going a bit far.”

Follow the pigs' progress at Jono's Instagram account @jmwpaynter