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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
James Robinson

One in a million five-legged lamb born at Whitehouse Farm in Northumberland

The team at a beloved Northumberland visitor attraction have welcomed an unusual new addition.

Lambing season is well underway at Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth, but one of the new arrivals surprised part-owner Heather Hogarty when it was one born an extra limb.

Five-legged lambs are extremely rare - it is thought to only happen to one lamb in a million - and Heather says it is only the second time she has seen it in her 25 years at Whitehouse Farm.

Read more: Go here for more Northumberland news and updates from Northumberland Live

Heather said: "You could see it as soon as it was born, it's on the front left side so it's just another leg that comes out of the shoulder.

A five legged lamb, born at Whitehouse Farm Centre near Morpeth, Northumberland (Newcastle Chronicle)

"It is unusual, but animals having something a bit different does happen - we get many animals born with disabilities, but you don't see them as often as sadly they get put down.

"We think as long as it is going to live a normal live, we will just keep it. We're just keeping an eye on this one at the minute, so it might have to have the leg removed."

In a twist of fate, the lamb - who is yet to be given a name - was born in a set of triplets on February 22 - or 02/22/22.

Whitehouse Farm Centre is a 40-acre family-run venture which opened to the public and school groups in 1997.

The five-legged lamb was born almost a decade after Quinto, another Whitehouse Farm lamb born with five legs.

Quinto's extra limb was in the centre of her body, and eventually had to be removed - but she went on to live a long life and even gave birth to her own lambs.

Heather added: "We had one nine years ago but that leg was right in the centre of her stomach while this one comes out the shoulder and doesn't reach the ground.

"When the new lamb was born I was thinking it was Quinto reincarnated. She was born on April Fools Day and people thought we had stitched it on as a joke.

Kai Chu (3) and Dad Darren feed a five legged lamb at Whitehouse Farm Centre near Morpeth, Northumberland (Newcastle Chronicle)

"They are the only two odd things we've had here, and we've been open to the public for 25 years now."

Heather is asking ChronicleLive readers for their suggestions for the name of the lamb. If you have any ideas, you can contact us through our social media channels or email james.robinson@reachplc.com. It would also be nice to know if you have any background as to why you are suggesting the name. Good luck, you could come up with the winning name.

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