Farmers snap bleating beauties

Texel breed pictures beat the disease ban

Farmers have entered their sheep in a photographic beauty contest after foot-and-mouth killed off their annual gathering.

Somerset breeder Nick Tavernor, of South Petherton, came up with the idea when last month's Royal Bath and West Show was cancelled.

His wife, Sarah, said: "He thought it would be a bit of light-hearted relief with all the worry, and cheer everyone up.

"It seemed to work."

It's the back that the judges really go for

Sarah Tavernor

The show society contacted owners of Texel sheep with the idea.

Spokesman Fran Wheelan said: "Regular exhibitors were invited to take pictures of their prize sheep - front, back and sides."

"It's the back that the judges really go for."

Phil Barnes, who would have judged the sheep at this year's show, spread the pictures over his kitchen table at home in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Exhibitors had to send front, side and rear pictures

He said: "It was the hardest show I have ever had to judge.

"It was light relief in the middle of all this worry and I was delighted to be asked.

"But there is nothing to beat live judging."

He picked Nick Tavernor's own three-and-a-half-month-old ram lamb, Salocin Hercules, as champion.

The reserve was a four-month-old ewe lamb, Penstones Hebe, belonging to C S Ponting and Co, from Standford in the Vale in Oxfordshire.

Mr Barnes said he spotted the champion straight away - because of its "tremendous back end".