AN award-winning documentary following the life of a County Durham tenant hill-farming family is set to be shown in Parliament to highlight their work during Brexit negotiations.

Addicted to Sheep, which follows the lives of Teesdale sheep farmers Tom and Kay Hutchinson and their children Hetty, Esme and Jack, will be shown as part of an event hosted by MP for Bishop Auckland, Helen Goodman, on April 24.

Mrs Goodman, who is also a member of the Treasury Select Committee said she is hoping to raise awareness of the work and lives of sheep farmers during the event which she is hosting alongside fellow MP, Peter Aldous.

The event is sponsored by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).

Addicted to Sheep was made after Magali Pettier, of Provence Films, was given unrestricted access to the family on their farm near Middleton-in-Teesdale from June 2010 to September 2011.

Ms Pettier captured 62 hours of footage of them and their flock of pedigree Swaledale sheep as they battled through the seasons and teamed up with Jan Cawood, of Tin Man Films, to produce the independent documentary.

The film was initially premiered in Durham before being shown across the UK.

It even featuring in the BBC One show Countryfile and was shown at the Ashland Independent Film Festival, in Oregon, last year.

Following the showing of the film there will be a question and answer session with Mr and Mrs Hutchinson, Ms Pettier and Robin Milton, an Exmoor sheep farmer who chairs the NFU Upland Forum.

Mrs Goodman said: “Instead of giving any reassurances on the post-Brexit lamb export regime, the Government continues to repeat the cop-out that they will not be giving a running commentary.

“This is a tired line, and I, alongside many within the agricultural sector, are extremely concerned.

“This exciting event will give those who care about sheep farming a chance to discuss the interests of the sector, and I hope it will act as a preliminary stage to the campaign to promote the interests of sheep farming during the Brexit negotiations.”

Ms Pettier added: “One of our aims making Addicted to Sheep was to raise awareness about the challenges that tenant hill farmers face and we hope that showing the film at the Houses of Parliament will go a long way in achieving this and making their future more secure especially at this time of certainty surrounding Brexit.

“Tom and Kay Hutchinson and all other farmers are not just farmers, they are people and we hope that after seeing the film MPs and Lords will appreciate that even more before they take decisions.”

Mrs Hutchinson said hoped the event would “highlight hill farming and the challenges it faces”.

“Hill farming is very different from lowland farming,” she said. “Farmers have got to look on the positives and really try to get the best out of a Brexit deal – there will always be farming but it’s just in what context.”