AN EARLY flock of lambs gave a farmer and his family a pleasant surprise this week.

Five newborn lambs are currently frolicking around a Newton Aycliffe farm, much to the joy of David Coupland, his wife and grandson.

The unexpected – and very early - lambing of Mr Coupland’s sheep left the family baffled but delighted.

After welcoming two sets of Suffolk Cross Oxford breed twins and one pure bred Oxford Down lamb, Mr Coupland said: “The first set of twins were born at 7am on Sunday morning and the other three were born at about 3.30am on Monday.

“We’re about a month early with the lambing – we didn’t get our earliest lambs until the end of December last year.

“I don’t know why it’s happened, maybe it’s down to the funny weather we’ve been having but I was quite amazed when I realised and thought ‘bloody hell.’.

“I love them, I love sheep and we do a lot of showing – it started as a hobby but now we’ve got 37 in our breeding stock.”

Mr Coupland’s four-year-old grandson Matthew Godwin excitedly named his favourite two sheep Lightning and Tiger while another was named Katie but later dubbed Midge by Mr Coupland, because of her diminutive size.

The other two are currently unnamed but all five, who are in good health, have been warmly welcomed by the entire family.

Mr Coupland said: “It was a busy weekend for me as I was constantly checking on them but it’s lovely to see the little lambs there.”