Farmers could be offered free llamas as bodyguards to protect their sheep from wild lynx, which conservationists are hoping to reintroduce to Britain.

The Lynx Trust has applied to Natural England for permission to release Eurasian lynx into Kielder Forest in England and also want to rewild the animals in the Scottish Highlands.

But farmers are opposing the plans, claiming lynx will kill sheep and lambs.

However the Trust has pledged to establish a sheep welfare programme which will provide grants to build fencing, buy outbuildings for lambing and could even bring in llamas to guard flocks.