TULISA the Turkey is off the menu this year — thanks to bosses at a popular farm.

The two-year-old was destined for the Christmas dinner table but has won the hearts of everyone at Smithills Open Farm and is being saved from the knife.

Carl Grimshaw, the farm's manager, said: "We got her off somebody early this year after she had already survived last Christmas.

"She is on her own here and I thought we could have her at Christmas this year.

"But she has become really popular on the farm and the chickens love being with her.

"And all the kids love her as well so she's off the menu now."

The family-run visiting farm, which exhibits countless animals including llamas, reindeer and wallabies to tour parties, earmarked her to suffer the same fate as thousands of her peers this month. And they are now keeping her on as one of the family.

Tulisa struts around her pen, most recently wearing tinsel round her neck to get into the festive spirit, with friend Henrietta the Hen.

Mr Grimshaw has lived on Smithills Open Farm for 28 years with his father Anthony, and more recently his wife and son Elliot.

School trips regularly visit the farm, while Mr Grimshaw has taken his reindeer, Rainbow and Robin, on forays across Bolton this month.

Among the farm's animals are alpacas, lots of cows and calves, as it also functions as a dairy farm, pigs, piglets, sheep, goats, snakes, owls.

The farm is also hosting five Christmas Fun Days from December 20 to Christmas Eve.

Joining Tulisa will be reindeers Robin and Rainbow and a Santa's Grotto.

Mr Grimshaw added: "Tulisa has become quite a hit with visitors, particularly at this time of year.

"We will have quite a few groups coming in over the next few days.

"Christmas Day and Boxing Day are just two of the three days in the year that we close, so after all that we are going to enjoy them."