BEAUTIFUL lambs born to mothers who survived a dog attack that killed 11 sheep have brought joy and relief to a young Riddlesden farmer.

Harley Baxter, 22, was devastated after dogs ran wild in a field beside Bradford Road, in Riddlesden, last month and killed three ewes, scared another three into a river where they drowned and left five so mutilated they had to be shot where they lay.

Speaking about the flock he had built to prize-winning standard since he was 13, Mr Baxter said he feared the heavily pregnant survivors might be too traumatised to deliver healthy lambs.

"Apart from the dead ones, it won't be until lambing starts in five weeks that I find out if the shock has killed unborn lambs or if they'll come out twisted," Mr Baxter said at the time.

But now thankfully his ewes have just started lambing and he already has four new faces to introduce to his 40-strong flock.

"Three ewes have lambed so far and I've had singles from a Beltex and a Mule and twins from a Texel cross," said delighted Mr Baxter, who provides the sheep used in the popular Bingley Nativity Live Christmas event.

"It's really put a smile on my face at last after what has been a horrendous time.

"It is a real weight off my and my girlfriend's shoulders and given us something to be glad about," said Mr Baxter, as his lambs blinked happily in the spring sunshine.

Legal proceedings are currently underway regarding the two alsatian dogs which are thought to have carried out the carnage.