SPRING is in the air at Smithills Open Farm.

The farm has welcomed a host of new additions to its ever expanding family including lambs, ducklings and even a baby alpaca.

The farm is coming to the end of its lambing season with about 50 sheep so far having between 70 and 80 lambs.

Staff have also witnessed the birth of 20 pygmy goats and there are now some week-old ducks parading around the farm.

Youngster Daisy Bruce, aged five, enjoyed coming face to face with Daisy the duck, as both took in the sunny weather.

And fellow animal lover James Dolan, aged eight, helped to feed a baby pygmy goat, called Peter Pan.

Carl Grimshaw, aged 29, who runs the farm with his father Anthony, said: “Spring is definitely our favourite time — there is a new atmosphere to the place.

“We have had lots and lots of children coming over the Easter holiday to enjoy meeting our new arrivals and taking part in the egg hunts which have been a huge hit.”

One of the rare additions to the farm family is a baby Alpaca that goes by the name of Mars — whose mother, Cocoa, gave birth to him a week ago.

The farm has seen such an influx of visitors over the Easter period that the Grimshaws have had to take on extra staff.

Mr Grimshaw said: “It is good to be able to provide work for people because of how busy we are, and we also love seeing how much fun all the kids are having — I can’t tell you how much they love interacting with the new animals.”