The liger, mules and cockapoos are some of the world’s better known hybrid animals. Now, a farm in Dorset has accidentally created another.

Two baby “Shalais” lambs have been born at Farmer Palmer’s petting zoo in Poole after their mother, an unnamed Shetland ewe, got into the neighbouring enclosure of Hank, the Valais ram.

Workers at the farm are in the middle of lambing season and the two hybrid lambs have been born as part of an unscheduled arrival.

Hank and the Shetland ewe needed only a few hours together to complete the process of getting pregnant. It is thought to have happened about six months ago.

It was unknown how the randy female ended up in Hank’s enclosure, but she was thought to have determinedly jumped the fences keeping them apart.