Knitters rush to help keep newborn lambs warm

Knitters from across the UK have come together to create hundreds of jumpers for newborn lambs at a Yorkshire farm.

The woollen sweaters began arriving at Cannon Hall Farm, near Barnsley, after it put out a plea on social media following the premature birth of a lamb.

The appeal resulted in them receiving "absolutely hundreds" of jumpers, according to Rob Nicholson, whose family run the visitor attraction.

He said the generosity of knitters from across the UK and beyond would ensure the 400 lambs expected to be born at farm in the next two months could "keep warm in style".

"We have a lamb called Soldier that was born a week early, she was premature and tiny so we put a plea out on social media and we've been sent absolutely hundreds of jumpers," Nicholson said.

He said they could not be more grateful to all those who had created the stylish sweaters.

"The jumpers have come in particularly well as it's been so very cold, and cold kills lambs, they need to be warm."

He said the lambs wear the jumpers for about 10 days when they are at their most vulnerable to the weather.

"Whatever the weather does now these lambs are secure and they've got all the different designs and colours they could dream of," he said.

"So many in fact that now all our lambs can keep warm in style and still have a fashionable outfit change."

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