ONE of the first signs of spring could banish the winter blues on a Bootle farm this January.

Sandra Woodend and her partner Stephen Boow have welcomed some of the first lambs of the year at Hyton Farm, Bootle.

The pair have been working tirelessly for days already to safely deliver the new lambs into the world.

Miss Woodend said: "It's all gone quite well so far, I'm even starting to enjoy it quite a lot.

"The process has been good and the lambs are doing really well considering how bad the weather has been lately."

The gruelling task has seen a number of sleepless nights in a tiring start to the new year for the couple.

Miss Woodend said: "We don't usually get in the house until after 10pm and we have to get up every couple of hours to check on them.

"We've got CCTV in the barn so we can keep an eye on them but we still have to go and check on them to make sure they're all right.

"As the lambs get older it gets a lot easier, but the first few days are the hardest when they don't know what to do."

The couple have welcomed 27 new lambs so far this year, with plenty still to come from their pedigree Hyton Suffolk sheep.

Miss Woodend said: "It's all been going on since about December 27, so we've been quite busy for a few days now.

"There's still another 11 left to come and they're due any day really.

"The last one isn't due until February 2 so there's still quite a lot to do.

"It isn't too bad because you know pretty much exactly when they're due, and they're not often much later."

While the cold winter nights and frosty conditions are an added test, it's an annual challenge for the breed.

Miss Woodend said: "Lambing in January is completely normal for these lambs.

"Now we need to keep growing them for a while so they're big enough to sell in September as tups."