The High Court of Justice has intervened after an alpaca from Wickwar continue to live, despite three positive tests for Tuberculosis.

'Geronimo' the Alpaca arrived in the UK in August 2017 when his owner, Helen Macdonald 47, brought him from a farm in New Zealand.

Upon his arrival, Helen had him voluntarily tested for TB. The result was positive.

She believes the test came back with a false positive result due to a number of tests taken just before he left New Zealand, these involved him being injected with tuberculin.

The Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) agreed to a retest but insisted he be given even more tuberculin. The repeated blood test result was a borderline fail with all other tests negative.

DEFRA then wrote to Miss Macdonald, informing her that they plan to get a court order to enter her farm and kill the animal despite her calls for further tests.

Now, three months on, Helen has applied for judicial review.

The court then ordered that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr Michael Gove, should not take any steps to remove or slaughter Geronimo.

Helen has revealed that she hopes any decision to kill her alpaca will be overturned.

"My hope in applying for judicial review is that the High Court, with all the evidence before it, will realise that the decision to slaughter Geronimo is not supported by science, and is ultimately irrational." She said.

"I hope that it will exercise its judicial discretion to quash the decision of the Minister.

"Our heartfelt thanks go to each and every one of you for your continued help and support, which has ensured that the fight can continue."

The intervention of the High Court of Justice could see the entire process turned on its head. The court will now make a decision whether to grant Helen permission to apply for judicial review.

After the decision is made, there may finally be an end in sight for Helen.