Benjy the bull who hit the headlines over his sexuality is travelling to an animal rescue sanctuary today.

The Co Mayo bovine was threatened with slaughter after he failed to mate with other cows.

It prompted an online Help Save Benjy the Gay Bull campaign, which has raised thousands of euro.

The bull was saved by co-creator of The Simpsons Sam Simon - who put up more than €6,000 to secure Benji.

Mr Simon - a longtime vegan - said: "PETA told me about Benjy, and I felt compelled to help. All animals have a dire destiny in the meat trade, but to kill this bull because he's gay would've been a double tragedy."

"It thrills me to help PETA and ARAN make Benjy's fate a sanctuary rather than a sandwich," he added.

The story prompted the animal charity PETA to launch a campaign to save him.

The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) has been working on the transport arrangements to get Benjy from his farm in Co Mayo safely over to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in the UK.

Benjy will be leaving Claremorris in Co Mayo later for the sanctuary.

Campaigns coordinator for ARAN, John Carmody, says the drive gathered a great level of interest.