A SHEEP at a farm in Lamerton has not only delivered the unusual number of four lambs — but has continued to rear her young by herself without any assistance.

The Geake family at Higher Haye Farm has been busy lambing for the past month, but last Friday the family witnessed a rare birth off one of their pure bred Texel sheep.

Farmer Sarah Geake said it was 'unusual' for a sheep to have quads, but even more uncommon for the mother to be able to rear them all by herself without any outside assistance from the farmers.

She said: 'If sheep have more than two they don't have enough milk, especially not for four, but she has been doing it all herself.'

The Geake family of Roger and Sarah and their two children Jess and Jack, now only have 84 left of their 270 sheep to lamb.

Sarah added: 'The lambs are big and strong due to the fact we have had a mild although wet winter, which has kept the grass coming.'