Farmers arrived in 30 vehicles at an RSPCA centre in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, to hand over the animals in a continuing protest over low prices.

The BBC's Margaret Gilmore reports: "At first the RSPCA refused to let them abandon the animals"

RSPCA spokeswoman Emma Nutbrown said: "We are absolutely appalled that the farmers feel it appropriate to compromise the welfare of the animals in this way.

"It is utterly irresponsible and we condemn it wholeheartedly.

"We have no facilities to deal with unwanted farm animals and we made it perfectly clear to the farmers that we could not take them in, but they would not move their position.

"An inspector on the site worried about the state of the animals and it was rumoured that the sheep had been in the vans since the previous afternoon."

BBC Wales reporter Victoria Ellis at the farmers' protest in Colwyn Bay

After talks, an RSPCA official eventually agreed the animals should be offloaded from trailers and placed in a field for their well-being.

Farmers claim they cannot sell or afford to feed this winter.

The publicity has prompted calls from people offering donations and also saying they will take some sheep off the RSPCA's hands.

But the ewes will be staying at the centre until next week to give RSPCA inspectors time to vet potential carers.

Farmer Ken Jones, who dropped off 25 sheep from his hill farm, said: "We are very pleased the RSPCA has taken them in. We cannot keep our sheep on the farms because we haven't got the food for them."

The latest action came hours after a further three calves were found dumped in a telephone box in west Wales.

The RSPCA has been called in to help

That brought to 20 the total number of bull calves dumped in phone boxes and on roadsides in an attempt to highlight the worsening crisis in the farming industry.

The cattle industry in Wales has been in turmoil since the government scrapped a scheme which guaranteed farmers a minimum price for bull calves which could not be sold abroad due to the beef export ban.

The animal welfare charity has had to destroy 17 of the dumped calves, saying it had no choice as the animals were not tagged.

That made it impossible to trace their histories to check if they were from BSE-free herds, and the RSPCA said it was consequently illegal either to keep them or to move them.

On Wednesday Welsh Agriculture Secretary Christine Gwyther pledged to press for the extension of a vital calf compensation scheme for farmers.

Christine Gwyther held talks with farmers' leaders

That followed a meeting with the Farmers' Union of Wales, the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners' Association.

"I have assured farmers' leaders that I will be giving further thought to their suggestions," said Ms Gwyther.

"In principle, I support these ideas, but there are financial and legal problems that would have to be overcome before they could be brought in.

"Early next week, I will be meeting First Secretary Alun Michael and it would not be sensible to make any decisions on today's proposals before then."