A Lorton farmer who has been delivering lambs for decades could not believe it when one of his Swaledale ewes produced five lambs.

Andrew Nicholson has delivered tens of thousands of lambs over the years but has never before come across a Swaledale having five.

Odds for a sheep having five lambs is one in a million.

"It's very rare for a Swaledale, one, two or three is the normal amount. If I hadn't been there I would have thought they had come from another ewe," said Andrew, who delivered the lambs on Saturday morning.

"I pulled them all out and was wondering how many were coming. They were little dwarves, but sharp little dwarves. They are doing great now, their mother is a big strong ewe."

The mother is unable to feed all five, so three have been put in another pen and are being fed separately.

Andrew, a director of Mitchells Auction Company, and his wife Karen have 1,700 Swaledale, Herwicks, Mules and Texels.

One thousand lambs have been delivered already, another 3,000 are expected.

  • Our very own Springwatch – while at the farm, our photographer Tom Kay was able to film this fab video of a lamb being born. Spring is truly here!