HUNDREDS of children played with newborn lambs and piglets under clear blue skies at Angley School's farm at Cranbrook at the weekend.

According to staff at the farm, the annual lambing weekend marked the start of spring for the 2,000 people who went along.

Farm manager Nick Cooper said it was the best event the school has held. The farm's 45 ewes gave birth to 13 lambs during the weekend.

Mr Cooper said: "A lot of people had never seen a ewe give birth before. People have been coming for years and not seen a birth but this year the sheep produced right on cue.

"As soon as this happens it is like the weather changes and spring is here. It cheers everyone up - and with all the doom and gloom around at the moment we really need that."

Visitors could also see one-day-old chicks and ducklings, donkeys and a batch of newborn piglets.

The event raised money for the school but is also aimed at teaching youngsters to respect animals.

"We let people touch the animals but we don't allow anything that would stress them out," added Mr Cooper. "It is important that people know how to behave around animals and respect them."