A SURPRISED Bradford farmer has welcomed the early birth of a group of lambs and could expect more over the next few days.

Lane End Farm, Tong Lane, Westgate Hill Street, has seen lambing season come early due to the milder autumn weather. Instead, he was expecting the lambs to be born next month.

The original pair were born on Sunday with another three born on Wednesday and yesterday morning.

Sadly, both of the original pair died as their mother could not produce enough milk for them.

The five lambs have been born from three different mothers.

The surviving lambs have yet to be named and their gender has not been confirmed.

The site has 120 breeding mother sheep, with 20 of them that could lamb now.

Owner Martin Hare said: "We will have to watch them and bring them in on a night time as it's too cold.

"We could have up to 30 or 40 lambs born. They could lamb anytime.

"The two could have died due to a lack of milk. It's sickening to lose them.

"I'm hoping to get more lambs in the next few days.

"I did not expect them so soon. I thought it would be in December that we would have some lambs. There are about 20 mothers in the field together.

"I think because it's been milder they have come into season quicker."