A lamb is learning to frolic in the sunshine - after suffering injuries to her front legs during a traumatic birth, writes Calum Loudon.

Valais Blacknose lamb Gia was born nearly three weeks ago, but was rejected by mum Mia due to nerve damage caused to her front legs, which got stuck during the birth.

Gia was unable to stand when she was born on April 6, but farmers Ali and Michael Thom refused to give up on her and created a harness made from an IKEA bag with holes cut in it, so she could get used to standing on her legs, which a vet put in casts.

Ali, 55, and husband Michael, 58, are bottle feeding their new pet, who is taking her first tentative steps around a field at Arnbeg Farmstay, Kippen, near Stirling.

Ali said: "I've not let Gia run with the other sheep yet in fear she would get trampled over.

"She's enjoying walking about in the sun - she's very nosey and is taking a great interest in her surroundings.

"It's been supervised visits in the sunshine for now.

"She's seeming stronger, she couldn't walk anywhere before, but now she's managing to walk with the casts on.

"She is walking fine on her own now though with the cast on, but we stay with her so the other sheep don't knock her down."

Gia has two new friends - a dog named Ivy, and a cat named Ed.

Ali added: "Ivy the dog is always around the sheep - usually following them about licking milk off their faces - so she is getting on with Gia.

"Ivy knows something is not right with her, as she's not getting knocked over by the other sheep.

"Ivy has been lying next to her.

"Ed is a sheep cat, he's always around sheep, all the sheep usually follow him about.

"He's not too bothered about her as he is so used to sheep.

"So they all hang out together when I take Gia in, and they've all been lying together chilled in the sunshine.

"I'm going to keep her with me as a wee pet - I'm considering renaming her Tripod."

The casts are expected to be removed this week but Gia will still need physio.

Ali said: "The adult ewes can tell when their young are injured, so just concentrate on her healthy lambs.

"Anytime Gia tried to feed her mother would just walk away, so we've been bottle-feeding her a lamb replacement milk.

"Luckily her mother still lets her cuddle so we don't need to worry about that job."