Turkeys to get reprieve in exchange for Children’s Hospice SW donations at Sidmouth Garden Centre open day

THESE turkeys have packed their bags and are trying to escape to somewhere hot for Christmas.

But, while two will end up as a tasty seasonal treat, Blinky and Lucky Clucky, are hoping for warmer climes of a different nature.

“They thought they would like to go to Turkey because they heard people don’t have Christmas lunch there,” joked Ian Barlow, whose daughter Charlie, 11, is pictured with the four birds.

Tomorrow, Saturday, she will be at dad’s Sidmouth Garden Centre during its open day, giving customers mulled wine and mince pies and tempting them to give generously to her Save the Turkey collection, to raise at least �100 for Children’s Hospice South West.

Ian explained: “As Charlie has got to know the turkeys she wants to save two of them. So I told her if she raises more than �100 for the charity she can keep them for another year.”

Charlie, feeds and gives the birds water before going to school in Exeter.

Ian said: “I was trying to teach her about business and she’s done really well.”