A COLLEGE farm has welcomed its first lambs of the year.

Staff at Houghall Farm in Durham, part of East Durham College, have introduced specific breeding techniques to expand the birthing season and give all students the chance to take part in lambing.

The technique means lambing can start earlier than normal and will continue all the way through until April.

Keith Cook, Houghall Farm manager, said: "We used these techniques during last year’s lambing season and it was a great benefit to our students.

"It’s just another way that we are continuing to expand here at the College to show students a wide range of processes and techniques that can be implemented within the farming process.

"Through the techniques we have used for the lambing this year we have been able to expand our lambing season to start earlier than normal here at the College, giving students on our agriculture courses the opportunity to get involved."

Members of the public have the chance to see the new arrivals at Houghall Farm when it hosts its annual Lambing Sunday event on Sunday, March 20, from 11am to 3pm.