DONNA LAMBERT'S favourite catchphrase - "pigs might fly" - became a reality over Christmas.

The software engineer came back to her North Yorkshire home from work to find she was the proud owner of the region's first airborne pig.

The mother-of-three returned to find the metal sculpture, with a wingspan of nearly 6ft, flying above her Knaresborough house.

Her husband, Josh, had commissioned the pig as a Christmas surprise.

She said: "I drove home in the evening and saw Josh with the children filming me on the video camera as I arrived, which I thought was rather strange. It was dark, and I walked straight into the house without a second glance at what might be perched on the wall. Then the four of them started acting very strangely and dropping hints, so I went back outside to have a look.

"I think it is absolutely wonderful and a total surprise. It is a very nice piece of artwork." The gift is the result of a long-standing family joke. Mrs Lambert is well-known for using the phrase "pigs might fly".

The stainless steel creature was designed and created by Harrogate sculptor Steve Blaylock.

Updated: 10:23 Saturday, January 04, 2003