LAMBS are avoiding the chop at a Sussex hairdressing salon.

About 12 fluffy youngsters have been taken in by Louise Gates, owner of Cameo in High Street, Steyning, over the last three years. Louise looks after orphaned and poorly babies. And as well as a warm home and plenty of food, the lambs get a shampoo and blow dry whenever they need it. Louise, 33, who lives above the salon, said: "I keep them with me in the daytime because they need bottle feeding and tender, loving care. It seems peculiar but there is method in my madness. "I am Australian, so I'm allowed to be a bit of an eccentric. "Customers love the lambs, especially children who can help feed them. The parents don't need to worry because I keep them very clean." Louise's latest lambs, named Gismo and Whatsit, have now been adopted by a smallholding at Ashurst, near Henfield. Louise said: "When a farmer has 1,000 ewes lambing the sickly ones get pushed aside. The farmer doesn't have time to look after them so I take them in myself. "I get them up to strength and give them back to the farmer or a smallholding." When they are well enough, the lambs move into a pen at the back of the salon until a home can be found for them. Louise said: "They are good company and you do get attached to them."

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