NEW-BORN lambs are keeping out the cold this Easter with man-made wool jackets .

The visitor attraction Hall Hill Farm at Lanchester, County Durham, has lost hundreds of lambs to cold in the past.

So farmer Ann Darlington and her son Richard bought pure-wool jackets from New Zealand to clothe the lambs until their own coat grows to protect them against the unseasonally low temperatures.

Twenty Jacob and Texel lambs have arrived so far this lambing season but about 250 are expected.

Mr Darlington, 21, a second year agricultural student, said: "One of the good things about the lamb jumpers is they are quite comfortable with them on. "

"They're all made in New Zealand - it's the sheep capital of the world. "

The first two hours the newborn lambs have a brown adipose tissue that keeps them warm but once that's gone they get a bit cold and that's when we put the jackets on.

"We've lost hundreds of lambs to the cold in the past."

Mrs Darlington added: "We had about 50 jackets sent over, they were only about a pound each."

The farm, which attracts thousands of visitors a year, has several animal attractions.

It is open daily from 10.30am to 5pm until the autumn.

Again, this year can go on line to watch lambing live via a webcam.

Visit hallhillfarm.co.uk/lamb-cam.aspx