You can't fox a llama

Lawrence and Leroy the llamas are already feeling at home on Mr Proudlove's poultry farm, making sure his 8,000 hens can range free.

Since they arrived two months ago, the boys have put the local chicken-killing fox population to flight, much to the relief of the Proudloves.

Mr Proudlove's wife Janet said: "We have had a lot of trouble with foxes. Although the hens are locked up at night, they are allowed free range during the day and you cannot keep an eye on them all the time. Recently we had 45 chickens killed by one fox.

"We read on a website that llamas are extremely territorial and protective so we thought we would get some."

Their search took a while and the couple ended up in Shrewsbury where £550 secured Lawrence and Leroy, who are still babies in llama years.

"One is 14 months and the other is about 11 months," said Mrs Proudlove who farms Whitegates Farm in St Helens Road, Over Hulton.

And the "lads" are certainly causing amusement in the area as they insist on walking to the fence to watch the traffic. "They obviously haven't seen cars before," said Mrs Proudlove. "They spend the night up on a hill and in the morning come down to look at the traffic. Then, when we let the hens out, they stay around them. The hens certainly don't seem to mind."

The couple - who also have dogs, cats, geese and two Vietnamese potbellied pigs - have seen the llamas in action.

"One of the pigs got in to the field and the llamas immediately went and sat in the middle of the hens. And we certainly have not had any trouble with foxes since they arrived," said Mrs Proudlove.

Factfile:

Llamas originate from South America, mainly living in Peru but they are also found in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia

They have been domesticated for 4,000 years

They can live up to 20 years

Their wool is much sought after, being very soft and warm because of their origins in the Andes

They are also used for guarding flocks of sheep and can pull carts

They communicate by "humming"