A HERD of five foot high alpacas are on duty in a village field protecting tiny new born lambs from marauding foxes.

Foxes were brazenly swaggering, by daylight, through the field in Hurst where part-time farmers Janet Spiller and Teresa Hopkins keep their six sheep.

But the lambs are now safe and sound thanks to their huge South American cousins, who do not distinguish the little lambs from their own kind.

Janet said: "This winter we've often seen foxes in the field. They're a real danger to young lambs, snatching them away to eat.

"So when lambing was due we borrowed our friends' four alpacas to act as guards while the lambs are young. We've not seen foxes since. Ten lambs are now running happily round the field.

"It's part of alpacas' herd instinct to protect youngsters: they instinctively chase off dogs and foxes. It has meant we have had one less thing to worry about. It's been very hard for the lambs this year because of the continuing freezing weather."

Teresa spent two hours in the cold, crouched down, with one very small new born lamb, encouraging it to suckle from its mother.

"It was such a relief to find it doing well the next day," she said. She watched twins being born.

"As soon as the alpacas saw what was happening they gathered round to watch, and, probably, to be on guard," she said.

"One of the alpacas called Cloud even pushed his nose under one lamb to help it stand up."

Janet, a Countryside Service administrator at Dinton Pastures and Teresa, a Waitrose cheese and deli specialist, keep the Wiltshire Horn sheep as a hobby and sell the meat.

They have eight other sheep that will lamb next year. Meanwhile, the kind alpacas are set to star at the Hurst Horse Show and Country Fair this summer.

The show will feature demonstrations of alpaca wool spinning and a bantam show, run by Reading and District Bantam Society.

For more information visit www.HurstHorseShow.org.uk