CHILDREN can roll up their sleeves and enjoy a taste of the countryside over the Easter break.

An "interactive farm experience", Down at the Farm, is staging an Easter events programme, from Saturday.

The working farm, near Houghton-le-Spring, has several new arrivals for visitors to view, including chicks, ducklings, piglets and lambs, while its rare breeds range from prairie dogs, pygmy goats, a pygmy hedgehog, red and fallow deer, kune kune pigs, alpacas and raccoons.

Among Easter activities are egg throwing and rolling competitions, an egg hunt, a panto, sheep racing, face painting, plus several trails.

Visitors can also help to groom a resident Shetland pony, Thistle, and enter a ‘name the new animals competition’.

Bethany the miniature Mediterranean donkey is always a popular attraction, while the scariest is Xena, a 20-foot python.

For an additional £1 charge visitors can enjoy a tractor and trailer ride which will take them to meet the cows grazing in surrounding fields.

The attraction, at High Haining Farm, between the A690 at Stoneygate and Hangman’s Lane, opens between 10am to 5pm throughout the school Easter holiday.

Admission is £4.75 for adults, £3.75 for children, aged two and above, and for concessions, while family tickets cost £15 for two adults and two children, or £18.75 for two adults and three children.

Further details are available on www.downatthefarm, or by ringing 0191-584 1873.