A PRIMARY school is being forced to get rid of its pet goats — after neighbours complained the animals were too loud.

Pupils at Lostock Primary School have been told the two goats — Evie and Marvin — are set to go.

The goats have been a popular fixture on the school's outdoor farm area that was developed last year.

The yard, which has other farm animals including chickens, is used as an outdoor learning area for pupils and the goats had become a key part of the curriculum with teachers using them for practical lessons.

But residents have been growing frustrated with the bleating pair, complaining to the school that they are making too much noise.

It had been hoped that the school could reach a compromise with neighbours to allow the children to keep the goats.

But despite numerous meetings and suggestions, headteacher Vicki Robinson says she has been left with no choice but to remove the animals.

She said: “The children are quite upset to be saying goodbye to their school pets — they have been part of school life.

“We have had various meetings with neighbours to try to reach a compromise and look at things we could do like moving the goats to a different area, or maybe to build up a sound-proof fence, but we haven’t got the funding and if we did that it would mean more difficult access for the children.”

It is expected the animals will be moved, along with the equipment that was bought for the 'Goat World' area, in the next few weeks.

It is understood a farm in Horwich has agreed to take the goats in the short term.

Miss Robinson said the children would get a final chance to say goodbye to their beloved pets but no plans have been made for big send off.

She said: “It’s a big shame. The children are upset because they’re having to say goodbye to their pets.

"I don’t want it to be too traumatic for the pupils. We wouldn’t want to make a big event of it but the children will say their own little goodbye.”

Neighbours in Bryants Field near the school welcomed the news that the goats would be removed — but said they were sorry the situation had gone so far.

David Ashworth said: "I'd be in the back garden for a few minutes and they'd start up this horrendous noise like someone was strangling a cat.

"It wasn't always the noise level it was just an awful noise — it was terrible."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: "We don't want to upset the children but we couldn't enjoy our garden because it was like listening to a strangled cat.

"We're genuinely sorry it's come to this but we can't enjoy our homes or gardens with the noise.

"I don't think the school understood how bad it was. It was the holidays, weekends and evenings and it was awful."