A LONELY goat has found a best friend and a minder after being rescued by animal welfare officers - a possessive cockerel.

Since the pair were thrown together, Ronnie the rooster has refused to leave Vinny's side and even sleeps on his back.

The two are among the star attractions at a children's farm in County Durham, which also houses llamas, prairie dogs, ostriches, zebras and water buffalo.

Vinny was rescued from the Northallerton area of North Yorkshire just before Christmas, along with a nanny goat that had to be put down because of its poor health.

The goat was so lonely at the RSPCA sanctuary in nearby Great Ayton it tried to break into the dog paddock for some company.

Staff decided to pair him with a recently-rescued cockerel and the two have been inseparable since.

They have since been moved to the Tweddle Children's Animal Farm at High Hesleden, near Blackhall, where they are delighting visitors.

Farm owner Denise Wayman said: "Apparently, Vinny was really down, but when Ronnie was put in with him he came out of the depression."

Television cameras will be at the farm over the next fortnight with pet behaviour experts to film for the Animal Roadshow programme.