Ewe must be joking – shock at late arrival

A GIMMER shearling destined for slaughter has been saved after giving birth to an unusually late lamb.

Gayles Hall Farm, in Gayles, welcomed the out-of-season arrival earlier this month.

The Stanwix family revealed its mother had been pulled out to go to slaughter after failing to lamb in the spring before the surprise birth.

It isn’t the first time the family has stumbled upon an autumn lamb.

A mule ewe with a leg injury being fattened up for sale was saved from the chop in 2015 after giving birth.

Farm owner Andy Stanwix revealed he was getting his flock ready for breeding when the family stumbled upon the lamb.

“We were just getting ready to put them to the tups,” he said.

“She never lambed in the spring so she’d been pulled out to go to slaughter and that would have been very soon.”

Daughter Sophie Stanwix added: “She’s been saved.”