A EWE gave birth to a quad set of lambs on a farm in south Cumbria.

The farmer posted a photo of the four lambs lying next to their mother on a Facebook group for Ulverston. 

A quadruplet birth for sheep happens about once in every 500 births, according to figures from Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Generally, ewes birth one to two lambs. 

James Airey, the Cumbria county advisor for the National Farmers' Union, owns sheep and explained what lambing season is like for farms in our area. 

He said: "Quads are really unusual. Triplets are pretty common quads are reasonably rare especially if they are born alive and healthy - it depends on the breed of sheep. 

"The perfect scenario for the sheep farm is if a ewe has two healthy lambs, as she only has two teats." 

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"Anything extra is a bit of an issue in that they need support from the bottle. You do need surplus lambs because some ewes lose lambs so you can foster them. 

"Generally, things work out in terms of numbers. Most (of sheep that give birth to quads) are lowland ewes. 

"If you are lambing sheep it is hard work. Any sheep farmer who says they have had the perfect lambs they are exaggerating. There is nothing better than seeing lambs following their mothers around the farm. 

"Really lambing time is very full on. You've got to keep an eye on your sheep 24/7, especially if you have a lot of sheep. Many sheep do need a bit of assistance when they are lambing, they do need intervention and a bit of help from the farmer to make sure the lambs are up and drinking. 

"And the weather plays a great part in this as well. If it's perfect sunny weather it takes the pressure off but if it is wet weather you have to get help them.

"We have to put them under infrared lights. I don't know many farmers who don't see lambing time as a great time of year." 

The Mail reached out to the original farmer.