ELEVEN small lambs have brought new hope to a farming community devastated by the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.

Multiple births of six are rare among sheep, but two ewes at Hargill Farm, in Howden-le-Wear, produced a litter of six within days of each other.

Farmer David Johnstone said that he had had sheep which had given birth to five lambs before, but never six.

He said: "About three or four lambs have survived from each litter but never five or six.''

One of the lambs died, but the rest are thriving. The ewes are feeding three of their brood each, but the rest are being hand-reared.

Mr Johnstone said: "We were lucky to escape the foot-and-mouth, but this is good news, especially after horrendous times. It has created a lot of interest.''

The lambs are with their mothers at the moment, but eventually Mr Johnstone said some of them will have to be put in a separate pen, when the help of his three children will be enlisted.

Kathryn, eight, Jamie, 12, and David, 18, have been excited by the new arrivals.

During the school holidays at Easter the two younger children will be playing their part in caring for the lambs.