'Waving' goat Darren dies at White Post Farm

A "waving" goat from Nottinghamshire who appeared on TV and in newspapers around the world has died aged 11.

Darren, an Anglo-Nubian goat who regularly performed for children at White Post Farm in Farnsfield, rose to fame in 2009.

His owners twice turned down invitations for him to appear on ITV1 show Britain's Got Talent.

Anthony Moore, from the farm, said Darren's passing was very sad but the "old goat" had had an exciting life.

He first began waving at people in an attempt to get food.

Footage of a nine-year-old Darren was posted on YouTube in 2009.

Requests to perform in front of Simon Cowell were turned down for welfare reasons

"The next thing you know he was on the morning news in America, he was in the press in Australia and Japan, all over the place," said Mr Moore.

"People started up Facebook groups, he had a Twitter account with lots of followers.

"He went from our pet goat to worldwide hero pretty quickly."

The farm park turned down the opportunity for the animal to perform in front of Simon Cowell for welfare reasons.

"Travelling to studios around the country would have been far too much for him so we let him stay here in the paddock and enjoy the fame from home," said Mr Moore.

Darren's trick was not something the goat had been taught, according to the farm.

"It was a way of him being as big as he could, saying 'I'm here, feed me'," Mr Moore added.

"He was a very boisterous goat and waving was all part of it, making sure he got all the attention," he said.

White Post Farm plans to keep a paddock at the visitor attraction in his name.