A SOW at a community farm in Middlesbrough has surprised owners by giving birth to 13 rare piglets.

The British Saddleback, known as the Grange Farm Duchess, is one of only 200 left in the country.

They are easily identified by their black bodies with white strips round their necks.

Staff at Newham Grange Leisure Farm were not expecting such a big litter and are thrilled they will be able to continue breeding the pedigree pigs.

"We hope it will encourage visitors to the farm because people seem to like piglets and they are so cute, especially when they wake up and start to run round their pen," said assistant park manager Tracy Farbridge.

"We have been breeding them since the 1980s and hopefully we will be keeping a few of the litter to preserve this rare breed.

"We weren't expecting a litter as big as this because they usually only give birth to about eight or nine, so this was a nice surprise."

The proud father is called the Low Park Grand Duke and visitors can see the happy family at the farm between 10am and 4pm during winter.