VALENTINE'S Day can make even the hardest heart swell – even that of a stone pig.The big day proved all too much for Pinky the runaway pig who whisked off his new-found love to Gretna Green.

VALENTINE'S Day can make even the hardest heart swell – even that of a stone pig.

The big day proved all too much for Pinky the runaway pig who whisked off his new-found love to Gretna Green.

Now known to be called Pinkette, the pair met at Ipswich railway station when the Kesgrave pig made a bid for freedom into the big, wide world. After going on a whirlwind tour of America and Europe, the curly-tailed pair decided to declare their undying love for one another.

Pinky decided to go on his travels in December, leaving a note for the Briggs family who have looked after him all his life, he said that he wanted to go off and see the world.

Since then he has sent several postcards charting his journey around England, taking in Aldershot and Guildford, and also further afield, including New York.

To the family's surprise the latest card was a snapshot of Pinky and Pinkette outside Gretna Green registry office.

But while many people's hearts will warm to the happy porkers' love story, there is one particular pig who may think the tale is really taking the bacon!

For back at Fox Lea, in Kesgrave, where Pinky grew up, lives Perky, his lifetime mate who he promptly forgot about in his bid for freedom.

Now Perky is living alone while the amorous Pinky has found new love.

But according to Pinky's owner, Moira Briggs, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Perky.

She said: "Perky does have an admirer as she has had a Valentine card from another pig called Trotski.

"But she is still heartbroken about Pinky's disappearance."

Trotski however seems to have a romantic streak through his pork chops and even wrote the lyrics to Elvis's "I Can't Help Falling in Love".

So as Pinky disappears off on honeymoon the question begs to be answered – although pigs cannot fly, has Pinky flown the nest for good?