A turkey rescued from the slaughterhouse has now had its sight restored after surgery.

Tinsel is one of two turkeys bought by vegan Fredericka Durham, who is known as Fred, for her baby daughter Isabella as a first Christmas present.

The mum, who lives at The Retreat Animal Rescue Centre in High Halden, wanted to save Tinsel and its companion Mistletoe from being served up for Christmas dinner.

She spotted Tinsel because he was on his own and had been pecked at by the other birds.

She said: “I said to the farmer that I wanted her straight away because she was being bullied and her eyelids were grown over.”

Billy Thompson, who runs The Retreat, asked Trinity Vet Centre in Maidstone if they could do anything to help Tinsel.

"It's the first turkey I’ve seen with this condition" - Richard McCort, vet

The vets who treat the sanctuary’s animals said they could, and Tinsel was booked in for a 20-minute operation to restore her sight.

Richard McCort carried out the procedure. He said: “It was a simple operation but Tinsel still has some healing to go. It’s the first turkey I’ve seen with this condition.”

Mr McCort said that a straightforward incision allowed Tinsel to see again and that the vets were happy to help.

Fred said: “Trinity vets are very good to us, and I’m so happy that Tinsel has got her sight back.”

When Fred went to buy the turkeys at Christmas she encountered controversy after John Howe Turkeys in Biddenden Road, Tenterden, refused to sell her any birds on the grounds that they could not guarantee their welfare.

Speaking at the time, Fred said: “There is an irony here in that the bird’s welfare will not be assured at all if it’s slaughtered. I was gobsmacked when the farm gave me its reasons – I just hadn’t envisaged that answer at all.”

The farm said its turkeys were reared for slaughter but that the birds’ wellbeing was its top priority.