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Geronimo the alpaca has been killed by government vets "to prevent the spread of disease".

The animal was put down after being taken from its farm in Gloucestershire, days before a destruction warrant ordering its death was due to expire on 4 September.

The alpaca had twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and was at the centre of a campaign and legal battle to save its life.

A statement by the government said: "bTB-positive alpaca known as 'Geronimo' has been euthanised to prevent the spread of disease."

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss called it a "terribly sad situation" and said "our sympathies remain with all those affected by this devastating disease".

She added: "No one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided, but we need to follow the scientific evidence and cull animals that have tested positive for bTB to minimise spread of this insidious disease and ultimately eradicate the biggest threat to animal health in this country.

"Not only is this essential to protect the livelihoods of our farming industry and rural communities, but it is also necessary avoid more TB cases in humans."

© Imagebridge Geronimo has twice tested positive for bovine tuberculosis

Downing Street has expressed sympathy for the animal and its owner Helen MacDonald, who disputes it had the disease.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "It's obviously highly distressing for someone to lose animals to TB and that's a situation that farmers sadly have to face.

"Our sympathies are with Ms Macdonald and any others that are affected by this terrible disease."

Avon and Somerset Police officers arrived at the site in Wickwar, South Gloucestershire alongside three people dressed in blue overalls, masks and goggles, just before 11am.

The force later confirmed it was supporting the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in executing a court warrant.

Other alpacas on the farm, which are not in the same pen, gathered nearby after the officers arrived before running off to another part of the farm.

After Geronimo was taken away Ms MacDonald spoke to the media and called on ministers, including Environment Secretary George Eustice, to: "Come out here and talk to me and explain your actions."

She was not present when the animal was removed.

© Other Three government officials led Geronimo away this morning. Pic: SWNS

"I would have been prosecuted for obstruction if I failed to catch Geronimo myself," she said.

"I am not going to put my hands on a healthy animal and allow the government to murder him."

She claimed the government manipulated Geronimo's tests "to suit their agenda".

She also tweeted: "DEFRA have arrived! We are asking once again for an urgent meeting with George Eustice. Please don't execute Geronimo" and "@BorisJohnson STOP THIS NOW GERONIMO IS HEALTHY."

Supporters have been camping out at the farm for weeks in case officials from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) arrived to destroy the alpaca.

Some spoke to officers this morning. Liz Stacey was briefly arrested after spraying officers with a water pistol, but was quickly de-arrested.

She told Sky News: "The police arrived in force. It was a totally disproportionate… they were determined to carry out that this heinous crime, you know, there was no way that Geronimo had TB.

"For four years [he's been a] healthy, happy animal on this farm. And it was just disgusting."

A force spokesman said: "We can confirm officers are in attendance at a farm in the Wickwar area of South Gloucestershire this morning to support the Animal and Plant Health Agency, who are executing a court warrant.

"We'll always support our partner agencies to carry out their lawful duties, and our role is to prevent a breach of the peace and to ensure public safety is protected."

Ms Macdonald's legal fight to save her animal has been ongoing since the alpaca first tested positive for bovine tuberculosis in September 2017.

She argued that the Enferplex test used on Geronmio was fundamentally flawed and said it tested positive because it had repeatedly been primed with tuberculin - a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.

The veterinary nurse, who farms alpacas at her home, received support from around the world - with more than 140,000 people signing a petition against Geronimo's destruction.

Earlier this month, a High Court judge refused her lawyer's application for a temporary injunction to stop the destruction order and reopen the case.

As well as alpacas, badgers have been a victim of the fight against bovine TB, with mass culling employed to stop the spread since 2013, sparking a huge public backlash.

Defra said a post-mortem examination of Geronimo will now be carried out by veterinary pathologists from APHA, followed by a bacteriological culture of selected tissue samples, which can take up to three months to process.

Meanwhile, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told reporters: "Well, for all of us who love animals, of course it is very sad to see any animal have to be put down in this manner.

"But it is really important that we uphold rules to keep TB at bay in this country because that is the way we will protect many, many more animals and livestock across the country."