Brother and sister, aged 9 and 6, share joy of delivering lambs at Moss Hall Farm in Chew Moor

For the first time, nine-year-old Thomas Fitton and his six-year-old sister Chloe have lambed a sheep with no help — and the younger sibling has even delivered twins at Moss Hall Farm in Chew Moor.

Thomas said: “This is the first time I have done this on my own. I have helped my daddy before. but never done it all on my own.

“I was so glad when the lamb came out alive and well it made me feel very happy that I had brought a new lamb into the world.”

Chloe added: “It was very exciting, I needed to check that they were breathing that their noses were clear and that their mummy could see them very quickly.

“It is such a nice thing seeing them alive and wriggling their tails when they first have milk.

She added: “It was very incredible lambing and a bit slimy as I only had one glove on.

“That was the first time I have lambed a sheep on my own and have lambed some more since then this time”

And these two would rather be out on the grandparents' farm than coming home after school and switching on the box.

Both are pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Westhoughton, and have been helping out on the farm run by Peter and Margaret Fitton – just a mile away from where they live – since Thomas “could walk” and Chloe was two, starting with helping out with straw and hay for the sheep and cows.

They help out every day after school and spend their weekends at the farm.

Thomas is “head farmer” at his school, which has a city farm.

He said:“At lambing time I help out by cleaning the lambing pens, making sure the new mums have plenty of food water fresh hay and clean bedding.

“I check the sheep which are due to lamb and make sure that they are not poorly or struggling.

"In the summer we help out at shearing time, getting the sheep in from the field and rolling the wool.

“Also in the summer we help out at haymaking time. I make sure all the barns are ready for the new hay bales to go in, I am also in charge of making sure all the tractor drivers have plenty to drink as it gets really hot on the tractors in the sun.”

Chloe added: “I have been helping on the farm since I was two years old. I help out by feeding the sheep, I check the lambs, make sure they can all stand up and that they are happy before they go out in the field.

"I am in charge or the orphan lambs, bottle feeding them when they don't have a mummy.”

It’s no surprise the two have aspirations to follow in the family’s footsteps.

The farm has been in the family for 40 years.

Thomas said: “I enjoy seeing and helping the baby lambs being born, I love it when we put them out into the field for the first time and the lambs are so happy running and jumping on the grass. We learn new things about the farm and animals every day.

“My daddy grew up on this farm and did all the things that I am doing now.

“When I grow up I would love to be a farmer I love being outside with the animals. We also show our lambs in the summer at shows.

“It teaches us how to be responsible for an animal, it gives us confidence and animal handling skills.”

His sister added: “I love going to the farm because every day something new happens and especially around Easter because all the new lambs are being born.

“I would love to be a farmer. I love being outside and helping all the animals.

"I love being on the tractor with my daddy. My mummy is a hairdresser so I might also be one of them!”

Sacred Heart RC Primary School is bringing the countryside in the classroom and may even breed sheep next season — under the watchful of farmer Thomas.

The school has sheep, goats, ducks, turkey, chickens and furry animals on its farm —including squirrel.

Teachers say animals help develop emotional intelligence,confidence, communication and enhance the general curriculum.

Headteacher Martin Johnson said: “We are very proud of Chloe and Thomas delivering the lambs on their farm — I only have experience of farrowing piglets as a child — and perhaps if we decide to breed from one of our ewes next year, they can help with the lambing here too."

He added: "Our Room2Grow Farmyard and outdoor learning strategies have developed greatly over the last five years, and centre around the idea of stewardship — we are all custodians of the Earth.

“Our children are challenged to make the world a better place within their own lifetime, and one aspect of this is care for our common home — reinforcing Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si'.

"Thomas Fitton is our head boy, farmer and Steward of Creation and leads the team of farmers and stewards.

"The key stage two children who applied for this role and others work caring for our animals, planting and growing in our allotments and helping others in school show respect for our environment, and better understanding of habitats etc guided by our farm manager, Chris Simpson."