EWE might not believe it but there is an unusual love affair blossoming on the Bowood estate.

Bara, a newborn black lamb that was found two weeks ago after being abandoned by her mother, has struck up a relationship with a black cocker spaniel called Maddie.

Sarka Vejrostova, the au pair for Lady Arabella Unwin, daughter of Bowood's owner Lord Lansdowne, found the lamb trapped in a fence on the estate.

Miss Vejrostova, 25, who is from the Czech Republic, brought the baby lamb back to the house where Lady Arabella's family have taken her under their wing.

"I was coming back from a friend's house in the morning," Miss Vejrostova said.

"I saw something black stuck between the fenceposts, which I thought was probably a little lamb.

"There were lots of sheep but no mum to look after the baby. She was all covered in mud and totally wet.

"I saw the umbilical cord from the belly button so knew it must be a newborn."

Bara has been living in the kitchen where she sleeps each night in a basket with Maddie. She has been living on milk and a special supplement to give her all the vitamins and proteins she needs.

Lady Arabella's three children, Abe, nine, Gala, seven and Evie, five, have helped look after Bara.

"Arabella rang her husband Rupert to tell him because we didn't want to bring a new toy to the house without asking first," Miss Vejrostova said.

"Everyone was surprised when I brought her in and we were all worried that she would die.

"We wrapped her up in a blanket and tried to do the best for her.

"I rang the shepherd and asked what to do. We thought it would be a lovely pet if that was okay with him and he said it was.

"The dog fell in love with her straight away, everybody did."

Lady Arabella said she was delighted with the new addition to the family but her husband needed a little bit of persuasion.

"She has chewed the tablecloth a bit but apart from that has been very good," she said.

"Rupert works in London during the week and I rang him up and said, guess what?

"He was quite surprised and said lots of sensible things about looking after her.

"The day he came back, by the end of the night I caught him taking pictures on his camera phone.

"I think he has become quite taken with her."